LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



r"^ 






Shelf. ..U...if 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 




THE "MOABITE STONE." 

(At the Museum of the Louvre, Paris.) 

Monument dedicated to ilie god Kemosli by Mesha, king of Moab, about B.C. 890, to record 
his victory- over the Israelites in the days of Ahab, and the restoration of cities and other works 
which he undertook by command of his god. The stone, which measures 3 ft. 10 in. x 2 ft. x 
1454 in., and contains 34 lines of inscription in the Phoenician character, was found at Dibhan in 
the land of Moab in 1868. It was unfortunately broken in pieces, but about two-thirds of the 
fragments were recovered, and it is possible to give a nearly complete te.xt of the inscription 
from the paper impression which was taken before the stone was broken. 



HAND-BOOK 



OF 



THE BIBLE 

A Compendium of Facts and 
Curiosities. 



BY 



/ 

REV. WILLIAM TURNER. 




S^^^'7^ 



NEW YORK: 

THOMAS WHITTAKER, 

2 & 3 BIBLE HOUSE. 







Copyright, 1894, 
By THOMAS WHITTAKER. 



INTRODUCTION. 



IF a thoughtful and intelligent person were to become acquainted 
for the first time with the book which we call the Bible, various 
inquiries respecting it and its pretensions could not fail to occur to 
him. He would find, on the most cursory perusal, that it was a book 
of remarkable antiquity — much of it evidently belonging to a period 
long anterior to that of any other literature with which he was 
acquainted ; he would find that it dealt with the most sacred subjects, 
and that many of its writers professed to have written or to have 
spoken by the authority and under the inspiration of the Most High; 
he would discover in it, also, notwithstanding the different forms of 
its composition and the distantly separated periods at which it was 
composed, a manifest unity and harmony of purpose that would seem 
to indicate for it, as a whole, some distinct design and aim. If he 
extended his inquiries, as he could hardly fail to do, to other sources 
of information than the book itself furnishes, he would be astonished 
to learn what an influence it had exerted and how it had been valued 
by successive generations of men. He would learn that by the Jews, 
whose history had extended backward from the present day to most 
remote ages, the former part of it was regarded with a reverence 
that amounted almost to awe ; that its poetry furnished the song for 
their most sacred service, and its history the foundation of their 
national glory and boast ; while respecting the latter part of the vol- 



IV INTRODUCTION. 

ume (not, however, to the exclusion of the former) he would be told 
that the most refined and civilized nations of the world yielded hum- 
bly to its teachings, and that the best men among them traced much 
of their refinement and civilization to the influences that it had sup- 
plied. If he extended his examination and inquiry still further, he 
would ascertain that, in some way or other, every part of the book 
was connected with one Man — Jesus Christ, and with one event — 
His death upon a cross. 

Still, as he prosecuted his inquiry, various other questions would 
present themselves to him : What, after all, is the antiquity of the 
book.'' How has it attained its present form, or was it always so.'' 
Above all, on what grounds, real or supposed, do its pretensions rest,-* 
Is the book (and in what sense) truly Divine? 

It is to answer such questions as these, and others which arise 
out of them, that the " Hand-Book of the Bible " has been com- 
piled and otherwise prepared. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



PART I— INTRODUCTORY. 

PAGE 

Title of the Bible, - - -ii 

Antiquity of the Bible, .---- = - 12 

Divisions of the Bible, "^3 

Excellency of the Bible, 34 

Design of the Bible, 16 

Authenticity of the Bible, ------ 17 

Canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, 23 
Figurative Language of the Bible, - - - - 25 

Bible Punctuation, .-------29 

The Alleged Missing Books, 31 

Versions of the Bible, -36 

Translations of the Bible, 38 

Chronological Index to the Bible, 55 

PART II— THE OLD TESTAMENT. 

Introductory, .-,- 61 

Language of the Old Testament, ----- 61 

Geography of the Old Testament, „ - . - 62 

Chronological Order of the Books of the Old Testa- 
ment, -.-„...--- 65 

Genealogy from Adam to Jacob, - - - - 66 



Vm TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

The Canon of the Old Testament and Its Formation, 67 

Miracles, 74 

Parables, 76 

Special Prayers in the Old Testament, - - - 77 

Chronological Arrangement of the Psalms, - - 79 
Alphabetical Index of the First Line of Each Psalm, 81 

Gentile Countries and Nations, 84 

The Hebrew Months, 86 

Prophecies Relating to Christ, 91 

Jewish History from b.c. 397 to a.d. 79, - = - - 94 

PART III— THE NEW TESTAMENT. 

Title of the New Testament, 103 

Language of the New Testament, ----- 104 

Chronology of the New Testament, - - - - 106 

Chronological Order of the Books of the New Testa- 
ment, 109 

Special Prayers in the New Testament, - - - no 

The Miracles of Christ, iii 

The Parables of Jesus, 112 

The Discourses of Jesus, - - - - - - - 113 

Names and Titles Applied to Christ in the Bible, - 114 

Supposed Chronology of the Acts anj:^ Epistles, - 117 

Miracles Recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, - 119 

Crucifixion, 119 

Pilate's Death Sentence of Christ, . - - - 121 

The Resurrection of Christ, 122 

Harmony of Our Lord's Resurrectioj?, - - - - 124 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. IX 

PAGE 

Geography of the Gospels, 125 

Analytical and Historical Table of Our Lord's Life 

AND Ministry, 136 

Gentile Countries and Nations, 145 

Biography of the New Testament Writers, - - - 145 

Supposed Deaths of the Apostles, .... \tp 

PART IV— MISCELLANEOUS. 

Renderings of the Lord's Prayer, 151 

Suppressed Bibles, 153 

The Name of God in Forty-Eight Languages, - - 154 

Symbols of the Evangelists and Apostles, - - 155 

Floral Emblems of the Christian Church, - - - 156 

Curious Bible Questions and Answers, . - . 158 

Ancient Portrait of Christ, 173 

Symbolism of Precious Stones, 174 

Flowers as Emblems on Feast Days, ... - 175 

Bible Measures, 176 

Precious Stones of the Scriptures, 179 

Stones and Rocks of the Scriptures, - - - - 181 

Metals of Scripture, 182 

Earths and Other Mineral Substances of the Scrip- 
tures, 184 

Bibles with Singular Names, 186 

Title Pages of an Old Bible, 187 

Obsolete Terms, 189 

Misquotations from Scripture, 192 

Divisions and Marks of Distinction in the Scriptures, 193 



% TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

A Table of Offices and Conditions of Men, ° - 194 

Hebrew Modes of Computing Time, . - - » i^y 

Ten Expressive Names, .--.„.. 201 

Principal Events in the Life of St. Paul, = - 202 

Jewish Doctrines and Opinions, - - » - „ 203 

Facts Respecting the Bible, » » - ^ = . 205 



HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 



PART I-INTRODUCTORY. 



THE word Bible is derived from the Greek word Biblos, 
which signifies book. This title seems to have been 
given in a plural form to the collected books of the Old 
Testament, in the first instance, by thq Jews in Alexandria, 
and when the canon of revelation was completed the name 
was given to the collected books of both the Old and New 
Testaments. Its use as a plural noun applied to the whole 
collection of the sacred books can be traced in the Greek 
and Latin churches as far back as the fifth century. By the 
writers of the New Testament the books of the Old Testa- 
ment are called "The Scripture" (Acts viii, 32; Galatians iii, 
22; II Timothy iii, 16), "The Scriptures" (Matthew xxi, 42; 
Luke xxiv, 27), "The Holy Scriptures" (II Timothy iii, 15), 
and, in one instance, perhaps, "The Word of God" (Luke xi, 
28). All these designations are applied by us to the whole 
Bible. The word Scripture is derived from the Latin word 
Scriptura^ signifying writing. The term Holy indicates alike 
character and design. 

The two parts of the Bible are called the Old and New 
Testaments (II Corinthians iii, 6, 14) or Covenants, so named. 



12 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

because they contain the revelations or testaments of God's 
covenant of mercy for the redemption and glorification of 
sinful man by the interposition of the Messiah, the Son of 
God, the Lord Jesus Christ, as the only mediator between 
God and Man. 

^ttltqttttij n^ % Jibl?* 

The evidence of the antiquity of the Bible is to be found 
on its very surface. Its language, its allusions, its character 
throughout, all indicate its remote origin. But the historical 
proof of its antiquity is very complete. As to the New Tes- 
tament, it is referred to by writers, both favorable to it and 
hostile, during a period of nearly eighteen hundred years. 
In writings that belong confessedly to the second century of 
the Christian era references to the New Testament, and quo- 
tations from it, are to be found. The Old Testament was 
evidently very ancient when the New Testament was written. 
Its earliest books were compiled nearly fifteen hundred years, 
and its latest more than four hundred years, before the ad- 
vent of Christ. 

Thus, while the New Testament writings are exceeded in 
antiquity by those of only a few classical writers, and, of 
course, by those of the Old Testament, the earlier parts of 
the Old Testament belong to a period far anterior to that of 
any other extant composition. Moses lived and wrote four 
hundred years before the siege of Troy, and four hundred 
more before that famous "battle of the gods" was "wedded 
to immortal verse." Nine hundred years before the most 
ancient sages of Greece and Asia — Thales, Pythagoras and 



DIVISIONS OF THE BIBLE. 13 

Confucius — lived, the Pentateuch was complete. The earli- 
est profane history that is known to us is that of the Greek 
historian, Herodotus, and this was written no earlier than 
the time of the prophet Malachi. Somewhat more ancient 
than the history of Herodotus are the poems of Homer and 
Hesiod, but the former of these cannot be dated further 
back than the days of Isaiah (b.c. 696), nor the latter than 
the days of Elijah (b.c. 892). As to Caesar, Cicero, Virgil, 
Horace, and a score of other writers, the golden age of 
Roman literature, to which they are said to belong, did not 
begin till the last of the Old Testament writers had been a 
hundred years in his grave. 

The Bible is divided into the Old and New Testaments. 
The term Testament, or Covenant, was applied first to the 
relation itself between God and His people, afterward to the 
books in which, respectively, the records of the relation are 
contained. 

Among the Jews the Old Testament was divided into 
"The Law" (or the books of Moses), "The Prophets," and 
"The Writings." Sometimes the Writings, or, to use the 
Greek name, the Hagiographa, or Holy Writings, were called, 
from the first book of the division, " The Psalms " (Luke 
xxiv, 44). 

The books of the New Testament fall into three main 
divisions: the Historical, the Doctrinal or Epistolary, and 
the Prophetical. The Historical portion comprises the four 
Gospels and the book of the Acts of the Apostles; the Doc- 



14 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE, 

trinal portion, all the rest of the New Testament, with the 
exception of the Apocalypse, which is the one Prophetical 
book. This division is not to be understood absolutely, 
since there are prophetical and doctrinal passages in the 
historical books, and historical and prophetical passages in 
the epistles, but it describes with sufficient accuracy the 
general character of each division. 

That the Bible is the best book might be proved suffi- 
ciently from its sanctifying and transforming influence upon 
the minds of all its devout readers, but this is manifest more 
especially from the fact of its having God for its author ; 
and that God is its author is evident from its being the only 
book which teaches everything that our Creator requires of 
us either to know, or believe, or do, that we may escape His 
deserved displeasure, obtain His sovereign favor, and dwell 
forever in the bliss of His immediate presence. It opens to 
us, first, the mystery of the creation ; second, the nature of 
God, of angels and of men; third, the immortality of the soul; 
fourth, the end for which man was created; fifth, the origin 
of evil, and the inseparable connection between sin and mis- 
ery; sixth, the vanity of the present v/orld, and the glory of a 
future state for the pious servants of God. In the Bible we 
are taught the purest morality, perfectly accordant with the 
dictates of sound reason, and confirmed by the witness of 
our conscience, which God has placed for Himself in our 
breasts. In this volume we see described all the secret 
workings of the human mind in a manner which demon- 



EXCELLENCr OF THE BIBLE. 16 

strates the inspiration of Him who is the searcher of hearts. 
It gives us a particular account of all the spiritual maladies 
of man, with their various symptoms and the methods of 
their cure. From this source flow all the pure streams of 
spiritual and healing knowledge, to bless mankind with re- 
covery from his fallen state, salvation and immortality. 

Although many hundreds of thousands of books have 
been written in different ages by wise and learned men, even 
the best of them will bear no comparison with the Bible, in 
respect either of religion, morality, history, or sublime ele- 
gance of composition. Perhaps no man was ever better 
qualified to pronounce his judgment in this matter than the 
late Sir William Jones,* who was one of the most learned 
men that ever lived. He says: "I have regularly and atten- 
tively read the Holy Scriptures, and am of opinion that this 
volume, independent of its divine origin, contains more true 
sublimity, more exquisite beauty, purer morality, more im- 
portant history, and finer strains both of poetry and elo- 
quence, than could be collected within the same compass 
from all other books that were ever composed in any age or 
nation. The antiquity of those compositions no man doubts; 
and the unstrained application of them to events long subse- 
quent to their publication is a solid ground of belief that 
they were genuine predictions, and consequently inspired." 

The commendation which Bishop Home gives to the 
book of Psalms is found to be true of the whole Bible by 
the devout Christian, who alone is capable of perceiving its 
excellency. That pious divine says : " Indited under the 
influence of Him to whom all hearts are known and all 

* Chief Justice of the English Supreme Court in Calcutta; born 1748, died 1794. 



16 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

secrets foreknown, they suit mankind in all situations, grate- 
ful as the manna which descended from above and con- 
formed itself to every palate. The fairest productions of 
human art, after a few perusals, like gathered flowers, wither 
in our hands and lose their fragrancy; but these unfading 
plants of paradise become, as we are accustomed to them, 
still more and more beautiful ; their bloom appears to be 
daily heightened, fresh odors are emitted, and new sweets 
are extracted from them. He who hath once tasted their 
excellencies will desire to taste them yet again, and he who 
tastes them oftenest will relish them best." 

|)is$tgtt xt5 t|? liil?* 

The Bible having God for its author, and having been 
given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we may be as- 
sured that it has been written for the most important pur- 
poses. Doubtless it was designed to give us correct informa- 
tion concerning our relation to God as His creatures, and to 
instruct us respecting the things that it is most needful for 
us to know, in order that we may " glorify Him on earth, and 
enjoy Him forever." It is important to remember, however, 
that the Bible is not intended to teach us everything that we 
might desire to know, even as regards our spiritual life and 
our eternal destiny. " Secret things belong to God." Still 
less is it intended to teach us science, or philosophy, or his- 
tory, or geography, except so far as they, or any of them, are 
subservient to its one purpose and aim. There are many 
questions, accordingly, for answers to which we might go to 
the Scriptures in vain. Revelation is not meant to supersede 



AUTHENTICITT OF THE BIBLE. IT 

reason. It is not intended, by" the voice of authority, to 
set aside research and inquiry. What man can find out he 
is left to find out. It is where reason fails that revelation 
steps in. 

Let it never be forgotten that the design of the Bible is 
to exhibit God ^Hn Christ^'' and, let us thankfully add, to ex- 
hibit God in Christ, '"''reconciling the world unto Hijuselfy (II 
Corinthians v, 19). This is the design of the whole Bible, not 
of the New Testament alone. Not to find Christ in the Old 
Testament is to fail utterly to comprehend its meaning and 
purpose. For the Old Testament, rightly understood, is an 
account of the preparation of the world for the advent of 
Christ: the New Testament is an account of that advent 
and a statement and prophecy of its results. The Old Tes- 
tament opens, in its very earliest chapters, with the fact of 
sin and the promise of a Redeemer: the New Testament 
opens with the announcement, "We have seen His star in 
the East, and are come to worship Him." Not alone may 
the Apostle Paul therefore say, "We preach Christ." Moses 
was a type of Christ. Abraham "saw His day." David 
"wrote" of Him. Prophet after prophet announced His 
glory and heralded His coming. It is only as we find Christ 
in the Bible that we recognize adequately its design. 

That the books of the Bible are authentic and genuine 
we have the most ample and satisfactory proof. The Scrip- 
tures of the Old Testament were collected and completed 
under the scrupulous care of inspired prophets. The singu- 



18 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

lar providence of God is evident in the translation of the 
Old Testament into Greek nearly three hundred years before 
the birth of Christ, for the use of the Jews using that lan- 
guage dispersed in Grecian cities. The testimony which our 
Saviour bore to the Old Testament used by the Jews in 
Judea, and the quotations which the New Testament writers 
have made from its several books, generally from the Greek 
translation, confirm what has been already said on the an- 
tiquity of the Bible, and prove their authenticity. This will 
appear in a much stronger point of view when we consider 
the Jews, as the keepers of this Old Testament, — their own 
sacred volume, which contains the most extraordinary pre- 
dictions concerning the infidelity of their nation, and the 
rise, progress and extensive prevalence of Christianity, — 
existing and remaining the irreconcilable enemies of its 
claims, and that their enmity should also be foretold. 

That all the books which convey to us the history^ of the 
events of the New Testament were written and immediately 
published by persons living at the time of the things men- 
tioned, whose name they bear, is most fully proved ; first, by 
an unbroken series of Christian authors, reaching from the 
days of the apostles down to the present time; secondly, by 
the concurrent and well informed belief of all denominations 
of Christians ; thirdly, by the unreserved acknowledgment of 
the most learned and intelligent enemies of Christianity. 

That the books which we possess under the titles of Mat- 
thew, Mark, Luke and John were written by the persons 
whose names they bear cannot be doubted by any well in- 
formed and candid mind, because, from the time of their 
first publication they have been uniformly attributed to them 



AUTHENTICITT OF THE BIBLE. 19 

by all Christian writers. That all the facts related in these 
writings, and all the accounts given of our Saviour's actions 
and sayings, are strictly true, we have the most substantial 
grounds for believing. Matthew and John were two of our 
Lord's apostles ; His constant attendants throughout the 
whole of His ministry; eye-witnesses of the facts and ear- 
witnesses of the discourses which they relate. Mark and 
Luke were not of the twelve apostles, yet they were contem- 
poraries and associates with the apostles, and living in habits 
of friendship and intercourse with those who had been pres- 
ent at the transactions which they record. Many suppose 
that Luke was one of the seventy disciples who were or- 
dained by our Lord to preach His Gospel, and if so, his 
personal knowledge of Christ must have been almost equal 
to that of the twelve apostles. However, if not one of the 
seventy, he was the constant companion of Paul for many 
years, and well knew the things concerning which he wrote. 
In the beginning of his gospel, therefore, Luke declares his 
intimate acquaintance with his subject : " Forasmuch as 
many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration 
of those things which are most surely believed among us, 
even as they delivered them unto us who from the beginning 
were eye-witnesses and ministers of the Word, it seemed 
good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all 
things from the very first, to write unto thee, in order, most 
excellent Theophilus, that thou mightest know the certainty 
of those things wherein thou hast been instructed " (Luke i, 

1-4). 

Luke being also the author of the Acts of the Apostles, 
we have for the writers of these five books men who had the 



20 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE, 

most accurate knowledge of the things which they relate, 
either from their own personal observation or by means of 
immediate communication with those who saw and heard 
everything recorded. They could not, therefore, have been 
themselves deceived, nor had they any inducement or in- 
clination to deceive others. They were men of honesty, 
simplicity, eminent integrity and amiable candor, which are 
qualities singularly manifest in all their writings, and their 
greatest enemies have never attempted to cast the least stain 
upon the purity of their characters. It was not possible for 
them to gain anything by false statements, and the doctrines 
which they published they themselves at length ratified with 
their own blood. 

But besides all these qualifications to compose those writ- 
ings which contain the gospel of our salvation, they were 
moved not only by a benevolent regard for the souls of men 
but by the blessed influences of the Holy Spirit, and His 
gracious and infallible directions secured them from every 
possible error and mistake in writing for the edification and 
sanctification of all nations, and for all succeeding genera- 
tions. 

The same effectual inspiration of the Holy Spirit influ- 
enced the apostles in writing the epistles to the newly- 
founded churches, agreeably to the promises of their Master, 
Christ. About the commencement of the second century 
copies of most of the New Testament books were collected 
into one volume. At first, indeed, for want of full informa- 
tion, — the epistles and gospels being in the care of diflerent 
and distant churches, and as several books, falsely attributed 
to the apostles, were published and widely circulated, — some 



AUTHENTICITT OF THE BIBLE. 21 

of the churches hesitated about receiving the epistle to the 
Hebrews, the second epistle of Peter, the second and third 
epistles of John, the epistle of Jude and the book of the 
Revelation. A scrupulous investigation of their claims was 
therefore instituted, and after a rigorous examination it ap- 
peared evidently clear that they were the inspired produc- 
tions of the apostles of Christ, and therefore they were ad- 
mitted by consent of all the churches as of equal authority 
with the other parts of the New Testament. 

As to the preservation of the sacred books down to our 
times, it is certain that although the original copies may 
have been lost, the books of the New Testament have been 
preserved without any material alteration, much less corrup- 
tion, and that they are, in all essential matters, the same as 
they came from the hands of their authors. In taking copies 
of these books by writing, from time to time, as the art of 
printing was then unknown, some letters, syllables or even 
words may have been omitted, altered or changed in some 
manuscripts, but no important doctrine, precept or passage 
of history has been designedly or fraudulently corrupted. 
This would have been impossible, because as soon as the 
original writings were published great numbers of copies 
were immediately taken, carried by the evangelical mission- 
aries wherever they went, and sent to the different churches; 
they were soon translated into foreign languages and con- 
veyed into the most distant countries; they were constantly 
read in the Christian assemblies, diligently perused by many 
private Christians, some of whom had whole books by heart; 
they were quoted by numerous writers, and appealed to, as 
the inspired standard of doctrine, by various sects, who dif- 



22 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

fered from each other, some on important points ; and conse- 
quently they were jealously watchful against the least attempt 
either to falsify or to alter the word of divine revelation. 

"Who can imagine that God, who sent His Son to declare 
this doctrine, and His apostles, by the assistance of the Holy 
Spirit, to indite and speak it, and by so many miracles con- 
firmed it to the world, should suffer any wicked persons to 
corrupt and alter any of those terms on which the happiness 
of mankind depends? It is absurd to say that God repented 
of His good will and kindness to mankind in vouchsafing 
the Gospel to them, or that He so far maligned the good of 
future generations that He suffered wicked men to rob them 
of all the good intended to them by this declaration of His 
holy v^\\\r—Dr. Whitby. 

That there should be differences found to exist in the 
manuscripts of the Holy Scriptures cannot be surprising to 
any one who recollects that before the invention of printing, 
in the fifteenth century, copies of all books were made by 
transcribers, some of whom were ignorant, rash or careless, 
though skillful in the art of writing. These persons were not 
supernaturally guarded against the possibility of error, and a 
mistake in one copy would necessarily be propagated through 
all that were taken from it, each of which copies might like- 
wise have peculiar faults of its own; so that various or differ- 
ent readings would be thus increased in proportion to the 
number of transcripts that were made. Besides actual over- 
sights, transcribers might have occasioned various readings 
by substituting, through ignorance, one word, or even letter, 
in place of another; or, being inattentive, they might have 
omitted a line or period. In these different ways, as it is 



CANONICAL SCRIPTURES. ^3 

very natural to expect, reckoning all the little diversities of 
single words, syllables and letters, many thousands of various 
readings have been discovered in collating several hundred 
manuscripts of the whole Scriptures. 

The manuscripts of the sacred books are found in every 
ancient library in all parts of the Christian world, and amount 
in number to several thousands. About five hundred have 
been actually examined and compared by learned men with 
extraordinary care. Many of them were evidently tran- 
scribed as early as the eighth, seventh, sixth, and even the 
fourth, centuries. Thus we are carried up to very near the 
times of the apostles and the promulgation of the inspired 
writings. The prodigious number of these manuscripts, the 
remote countries whence they have been collected, and the 
identity of their contents with the quotations which the 
fathers of different ages have made, demonstrate the authen- 
ticity of the New Testament. It has been, indeed, asserted 
by learned men that if the New Testament were lost, its 
contents might be wholly supplied by the quotations from it 
which are found in the writings of the fathers of the first 
four centuries of the Christian church. 

iitnuithnl ^tripter$$ uf f|q ©Itt itnit '^m %%%\wxm\%. 

The term canonical is derived from the Greek word 
Kandrty a straight rod or bar, a rod used for measuring : the 
beam or tongue of the balance. The word is also used meta- 
phorically, like the Latin word Norma^ for a rule or standard 
of excellence; hence the books received by the Jewish and 
Christian churches are called canonical. The canon of 



24 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

Scripture, then, is the acknowledged standard of religion and 
morals contained in those writings which are believed to 
have been given by God to mankind through the agency of 
inspired teachers. The books specified in the sixth article 
of the Protestant Episcopal church are universally received 
by orthodox Protestants of all denominations. 

The canonical books of the Old Testament are thirty- 
nine in number, namely, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Num- 
bers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, first and second 
books of Samuel, first and second books of Kings, first and 
second books of Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, 
Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon (called also 
Canticles), Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, 
Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habak- 
kuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi. Other 
books, supposed to be canonical, were lost (so it is believed 
by some) during the Babylonian captivity, among which were 
the following: the book of Jasher, the book of the Wars of 
the Lord, the writings of Gad and of Iddo the seer, and 
Solomon's works on natural history. With the exception of 
the last named it is probable that the substance of all the 
other works is incorporated in the historical books now 
extant. Thirty-five of the books received as inspired were 
collected by Ezra after the return of the Jews from Babylon, 
and at a subsequent period the books of Malachi, Ezra, 
Nehemiah and Esther were added. Of the zealous Ezra it 
has been said by one of his own nation that if the law had 
not been given by Moses, Ezra deserved to have been the 
legislator of the Hebrews. Ezra, as the restorer of the 
sacred Scriptures, collated the whole and disposed them in 



FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE OF THE BIBLE. 25 

the order in which they now stand ; he corrected the verbal 
errors occasioned by the mistakes of transcribers; he added 
a few explanatory or additional remarks which seemed to be 
necessary, as, for example, the account of the death and 
burial of Moses, in the last chapter of Deuteronomy, and he 
substituted for names of places then obsolete, or not gener- 
ally known, those which were in use in his day. He wrote 
out the whole in the Chaldee character, that language having 
grown into use during the Babylonian captivity. 

The canonical books of the New Testament number 
twenty-seven, namely, the four gospels which bear the names 
of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the Acts of the Apostles, 
and twenty-two epistles or letters to churches or individuals, 
including the Revelation of St. John the Divine. Of the 
epistles, Paul wrote fourteen: one each to the Romans, Gala- 
tians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Hebrews, and to 
Titus and Philemon, and two each to the Corinthians, Thes- 
salonians and to Timothy. Of the so-called catholic epistles, 
James wrote one, Peter two, Jude one and John three, also 
the Apocalypse. 

"I have multiplied visions and used similitudes by the 
ministry of the prophets" (Hosea xii, lo). This declaration 
of the Lord God Almighty must be practically regarded to 
fully profit by studying the Holy Scriptures. To adopt this 
mode of instruction was a merciful condescension to human 
weakness on the part of the Majesty of heaven, especially in 
the early ages of the world, when symbolical language orig- 



26 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

inated from the necessary scarcity of words. Figures of 
speech, as all allow, were occasioned by the very poverty of 
language. The advancement of society in arts, sciences and 
refinement has produced the addition of a multitude of 
words. Still, in the highest state of improvement, all lan- 
guages continue to be more or less figurative. 

Probably there are no writings in existence whose style is 
not, in some degree, metaphorical, which, indeed, really con- 
stitutes much of its essential beauty. 

The language of the Bible is highly figurative, particu- 
larly the Old Testament, for which, besides its remote an- 
tiquity, two particular reasons have been assigned : first, the 
eastern nations, possessing warm imaginations, and living in 
climates rich and fertile, surrounded by objects equally 
grand and beautiful, naturally delighted in a figurative mode 
of expression far beyond that of the more sober taste of 
Europeans in less luxuriant regions ; the other is, that many 
of the books of the Old Testament consist of Hebrew 
poetry, in the style of which the author is allowed, by uni- 
versal consent, the privilege of illustrating his productions 
by images and similitudes drawn from every striking subject 
which may be present to his imagination. Moses, David, 
Solomon, Isaiah, and other sacred poets, abound with figures; 
on every occasion their compositions are adorned with the 
richest flowers and the most instructive metaphors, to im- 
press the minds and affect the hearts of their readers. But 
their propriety, design and beauty can be appreciated fully 
only by possessing a tolerable idea of the country in which 
the inspired poets flourished, the peculiarities of its inhabit- 
ants and the idioms of its language. 



FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE OF THE BIBLE. 27 

The style of the New Testament, also, especially the dis- 
courses of our Saviour, are remarkably metaphorical, by mis- 
taking which the most extravagant notions have been pub- 
lished as Divine doctrine, some professors of Christianity 
adopting a literal application of those expressions which 
were figuratively intended. A few examples will show the 
incorrectness of a literal interpretation of some of the words 
of our Lord. Speaking of Herod, the king. He says : " Go, 
ye, and tell that fox" (Luke xiii, 32). Here, as every reader 
perceives, the word fox is transferred from its literal signifi- 
cation — that of a beast of prey, proverbial for its profound 
cunning — to denote a cruel tyrant, and that use of the term 
conveys, as was designed, the idea of consummate hypocrisy. 

Our Lord said to the Jews, " I am the living bread which 
came down from heaven : if any man eat of this bread he 
shall live forever; and the bread that I will give is my 
flesh, which I will give for the life of the world" (John vi, 
51). The sensual Jews understood His words literally, 
and said, "How can this man give us His flesh to eat?" 
(verse 52); not considering that He intended the sacrifice 
of His life, which He gave as an atonement for the sins 
of the world. 

In the institution of the Lord's Supper our Saviour said 
of the bread, " This is my body," and of the wine, " This is 
my blood." "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, 
and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, 
and said. Take, eat : this is my body. And he took the cup, 
and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying. Drink ye all 
of it: for this is my blood of the new testament which 
is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 



28 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE, 

xxvi, 26-28). The evident meaning of our Lord was that 
the bread represented His body and the wine signified 
His blood. This mode of expression may be seen used 
in the Old Testament (Genesis xli, 26, 27; Exodus xii, 11; 
Daniel vii, 24), and by or,r Saviour Himself in His parables 
(Matthew xiii, 38, 39 ; John x, 7-9). Also, Christ calls Him- 
self the Door (John x, 9), a Vine (John xv, i), a Shepherd 
(John x, 11). 

The most common and remarkable figures of speech in 
the Bible are the following: 

1. A metaphor is a figurative expression founded on 
some similitude which one object bears to another, as, "To 
bridle the tongue" (James i, 2); "For the sword to devour 
flesh" (Deuteronomy xxxii, 42); "To be born again" (John 

iii, 3). 

2. An allegory is a continued metaphor, as the dis- 
course of our Saviour concerning eating His flesh (John 

vi, 35-65)- 

3. A parable is the representation of some moral or spir- 
itual doctrine under an ingenious similitude, as that of the 
sower (Matthew xiii, 2-23), the prodigal son (Luke xvi, 
11-32), and the ten virgins (Matthew xxv, 1-13). 

4. A proverb is a concise, sententious saying, founded on 
a penetrating observation of men and manners. Brevity and 
elegance are essential to a proverb (Proverbs x, 15; Luke iv, 

23). 

5. Metonymy is a figure of speech in which one word is 

put for another, as, " They have Moses and the prophets " 
(Luke xvi, 29), meaning not their persons but their writings. 

6. Prosopopoeia, or personification, attributes the actions 



BIBLE PUNCTUATION. 29 

of persons to things, as in Psalm Ixxxv, lo, it is said, "Mercy 
and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have 
kissed each other." 

7. Synecdoche puts a part for the whole of anything, or 
the whole for a part, as (Luke ii, i), "All the world," and 
(Acts xxiv, 5) "Throughout the world," by which is meant 
the Roman empire, or parts of it. In Acts xxvii, 37, the 
word "souls" is put for the whole persons. 

8. Irony is a figure in which a different thing is intended 
from that which is spoken. Examples of this kind are not 
very frequent in the Bible, yet there are a few ; such is the 
address of Elijah to the priests of Baal (I Kings xviii, 27), 
and the remark of Job to his friends (Job xii, 2). 

9. Hyperbole is a representation of anything as being 
much greater or smaller than it is in reality. For examples 
of this figure see Numbers xiii, ^Zt t)euteronomy i, 28, ix, i. 

It is well known that the adjustment of a comma (,) or a 
colon (:) or a period (.) has much to do, at times, in render- 
ing a verse or sentence clear and intelligible, or otherwise, 
and many and acrimonious have been the controversies 
which the question of placing one or other of these points in 
a verse has incited among bibliographers. At the present 
day the learned are not agreed among themselves whether 
the apostles employed those most important auxiliaries to 
the right understanding of fheir compositions or not, for 
most of the earliest manuscripts are destitute of punctuation 
marks, as many lawyers' briefs are in Our day. There may 



30 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

have been some "stops" occasionally introduced, but it is 
nevertheless certain that no system of punctuation was in 
use before the close of the fourth century, and even then it 
was not only crude but very carelessly observed. St. Jerome 
introduced both the comma and the colon, to which, by slow 
— very slow — degrees, other points were added by succeed- 
ing biblicists. 

About the year of our Lord 450 an Alexandrian deacon 
named Euthalius, desirous of assisting the clergy in the right 
understanding of the text, adopted a curious expedient. He 
published an edition of the four gospels, which he divided 
into stichoi^ or lines indicating the sense, by " marking " a 
pause at the end of each line. Wherever he conceived a 
pause was necessary he stopped short in the line, no matter 
how few were the words it contained, and proceeded with a 
new sentence in the following line, and so on, making the 
close of each line the resting point. Afterward, when tran- 
scribers found that their space was sometimes too limited for 
the line that should fit into it, they would turn the line and 
make a mark to indicate its true termination. And thus it 
was, by slow degrees, the system (as far as in courtesy it can 
be called a system) of punctuation expanded and came into 
general use. The following is an illustration of Euthalius's 
plan : 

"And these are they which are sown among thorns 

such as hear the word 

and the cares of this world 

and the deceitfulness of riches 

and the lusts of other things entering in 

choke the word 

and it becometh unfruitful " 



THE ALLEGED MISSING BOOKS. 31 

W^\ JtllQ^h ||i$$ittg J0xrfe$. 

As there are some books referred to in the Old Testament 
which, it is alleged, are lost, a few observations will suffice to 
show that none of the writings which are accounted sacred 
by the Jews and Christians (and which claim to be received 
as inspired writings) ever were or could be lost, and conse- 
quently that no sacred or inspired writing is now wanting to 
complete the canon of Scripture. I. It seems very unsuita- 
ble to the ordinary conduct of Divine Providence to suffer a 
book written under the influences of the Holy Spirit to be 
lost. II. The zeal of the faithful at all times for their sacred 
books was such as would be a very effectual means to secure 
them from perishing. III. The canonical books, either in 
the original languages or by means of versions, were dis- 
persed into many countries, and in possession of innumerable 
persons. IV. The books of the Old Testament supposed to 
be lost were in all probability nothing more than brief 
records, or memoranda, of certain events, the substance of 
which the sacred historian had incorporated into his history. 
(i) The word seppher^ which in the English Bible is rendered 
book, signifies the bare rehearsal of anything, or any kind of 
writing, however small. Take the following examples : Bill 
of divorcement (Deuteronomy xxiv, i) is in the original a 
book of divorcement; the genealogical table of our Lord's 
descent (Matthew i, i) is called in the Hebrew idiom a book; 
David's letter to Joab (II Samuel xl, 14, 15) is a book both in 
Hebrew and Greek, as also the letter which Naaman brought 
from his royal master, Benhadad, to King Joram (II Kings v, 
5). See, also, Matthew xix, 7, and Mark x, 4. (2) Several of 



32 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

the tracts referred to as books, and which are either lost or 
their substance incorporated in the books we have, were 
written by uninspired men — public recorders or chroniclers 
of passing events. (3) The bare citation of any book in a 
canonical writing is not sufficient to prove that such book 
ever was canonical. (4) As to those books supposed to be 
lost, let it be observed that the book of the Covenant (Ex- 
odus xxiv, 7) refers to nothing else than the injunctions and 
exhortations laid down in the four preceding chapters; the 
book of the Wars of the Lord (Numbers xxi, 14) is that very 
record which, upon the defeat of the Amalekites, Moses was 
commanded to make a record of and to rehearse it in the 
ears of Joshua; the book of Jasher (Joshua x, 13) was not a 
divinely inspired record. Josephus says it was the work of an 
ordinary historiographer, and which, like our " year-books," 
contained records of occurrences from year to year; and 
lastly, we have no reason to conclude that the three thousand 
proverbs, and the one thousand and five songs of Solomon, 
as well as his treatises on the natural history of plants and 
animals (which belong to philosophy) were inspired writings. 
Upon the whole, then, we may conclude that if any books of 
the Old Testament seem to be wanting in our present canon, 
they are either such as are incorporated in the canonical 
writings, or are writings which were never admitted as 
canonical. 

It may be well to repeat, what has already been premised, 
that these missing books never occupied a place in the sacred 
canon, not having been received by the church as a part of 
Divine revelation, and consequently their loss is little to be 
regretted. 



THE ALLEGED MISSING BOOKS. 33 

OLD TESTAMENT. 

1. The Book of the Covenant (Exodus xxiv, 7). This 
book is not distinct from the body of the Jewish law. 

2. The Book of the Wars of the Lord (Numbers xxi, 14). 
This was probably a record of Jewish battles which Moses 
was commanded to make and rehearse in the ears of Joshua 
for his private instruction. 

3. The Proverbs (Numbers xxi, 27). A book supposed 
to belong to the Patriarchal church. 

4. The Book of Jasher (Joshua x, 13). Josephus says it 
was a collection of chronicles, and also directions for military 
training. 

5. The books of Solomon (I Kings iv, 32) contained a 
larger collection of his proverbs, songs and canticles, together 
with treatises on the vegetable and animal kingdoms, which 
last belong not to revelation, but to philosophy. 

6. The books of Gad the seer and Nathan the prophet 
(I Chronicles xxix, 29). These probably are the same found 
written in I Samuel xxv, together with the second book. 

7. The Prophecy of Ahijah and of Iddo (II Chronicles 
ix, 29). In them were contained the acts of Solomon's reign, 
being civil records from which the first and second Chron-^ 
icles were drawn. 

8. The Book of Shennaiah the prophet and Iddo the seer 
(II Chronicles xii, 15). The Targum says they were house- 
hold genealogies. 

9. The Book of Jehu (II Chronicles xx, 34). A record 
of the administration of Jehoshaphat, kept by Jehu. 

10. The Sayings of the Seers (II Chronicles xxxiii, 19). 
Civil records. 



34: HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE, 

NEW TESTAMENT. 

On the writers of the New Testament it will be sufficient 
to observe (i) that they were competent witnesses of the 
facts which they attested, and on which the Christian relig- 
ion is founded. (2) They were not fanatics nor enthusiasts, 
nor were they (with two exceptions) men of great learning 
and of brilliant imaginations, but plain workingmen, whose 
character for probity was unquestioned at the time when 
they were personally known. (3) Hence they were not 
deceived themselves, nor did they practice deception or in 
any measure impose upon others. They were not ambitious 
of being known by their writings, but only wrote as they 
were induced by necessity for the further propagation of the 
facts which orally they made public. (4) The very discrep- 
ancies in their respective narratives fully substantiate the 
assertion that they did not practice collusion — did not write 
in concert. Had they been the crafty originators of a system 
of theology they would have taken proper care to have pre- 
served some uniformity in their statements and arrangements 
of "factSy" so as to avoid the least appearance of discord or 
discrepancy in their respective records. But instead of per- 
fect uniformity we find differences in the arrangement of 
many of the facts recorded, while in other places the same 
facts are differently told, and with such altered relations that 
we are sometimes at a loss to determine whether they are in 
reality the same facts that any two or more of them are tell- 
ing, or some other facts nearly resembling them in some 
leading features". Each writer appears to have recorded 
what most forcibly struck him, and what seemed to him the 
most important to make known. The truth is, the evangel- 



THE ALLEGED MISSING BOOKS. 35 

ical historians pay no regard to what others had before writ- 
ten on the same subject; and let it also be observed that no 
two men of equal capacity and attention ever yet related the 
same facts precisely in the same manner and words. (5) 
They appealed to well known proofs; for whatever internal 
marks of credibility the evangelical writings possess, their 
authors confirm the veracity of their statements by an 
appeal to the miracles wrought by themselves and to the 
extraordinary gifts conferred by them upon many other 
persons. (6) They suffered everything for the truth of 
their narrative, even death itself.. (7) In conclusion, history 
shows that by their testimony vast numbers of their contem- 
poraries, who could without any trouble have proved the 
truth or falsity of their statements, were not only led to 
believe, but became zealous advocates, incurring all sorts of 
ignominy and opprobrium, suffering persecution cheerfully, 
rather than renounce their faith in the new religion. Nor 
were these disciples all of the ignorant classes, who, it may 
be supposed, were easily hurried into a profession of Christi- 
anity through a blind and thoughtless enthusiasm; on the 
contrary, we find that among the first professors of the new 
doctrines were many philosophers and persons of quality and 
rank, — men capable of investigating the truth and judging 
of its evidences. 

The following is a summary of the alleged missing books 
of the New Testament: 

I. St. Paul's last Epistle to Corinth (I Corinthians v, 9). 
Our common version, "I have written to you in an epistle," 
should be rendered "in the (or this) epistle," there being no 
evidence of any other Pauline epistle to the Corinthians. 



36 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

2. An Epistle to the Ephesians (Ephesians iii, 3). "As I 
wrote before in a few words" does not allude to another 
epistle to Ephesus, but to the preceding chapter. 

3. The Epistle from Laodicea (Colossians iv, 16). This 
is probably Paul's epistle to the Ephesians, which the Lao- 
diceans caused to be made and sent to Colosse. 

4. The Prophecy of Enoch (Jude 14). Dr. Bloomfield 
shows these words to be cited from an apocryphal book of 
Enoch, often quoted by the fathers, and which was supposed 
to be lost, but has lately been discovered in an Ethiopic 
version published in Oxford, England, in 182 1. The com- 
position is referred to Herod the Great. 

The ^x^X. printed Hebrew book was the Psalter, edited by 
Kimchi. It was published (it is believed) at Bologna, in the 
year 1477. It is a quarto volume, and contains a commen- 
tary as well as the text. 

The first complete edition of the Hebrew Bible ever 
printed made its appearance in the year 1488, at Soncino, 
in Lombardy. It was edited by Abraham Ben Chajim, is 
in folio form, and contains about 380 pages. It is highly 
ornamented with large initial letters and other embellish- 
ments known at that early day to the typographical craft. 
This edition contains all of the vowel points. It is very 
rare. 

The edition from which Martin Luther made his German 
translation was published at Brescia (Brixiae) in the year 
1494, under the superintendence of Gerson, the son of a 



VERSIONS OF THE BIBLE. 37 

rabbi named Moses. It is an octavo volume, and with the 
exception of the Psalms, which are in double columns, it is 
printed in lines stretching across the page. 

An edition published at Venice, anno 1525-6, under the 
supervision of the learned rabbi Jacob Ben Chajim, forms 
the basis of all the modern editions with masoretic vowel 
points. 

Passing over other editions of the Hebrew Scriptures — 
those of Felix Pratensis, Venice, 15 18; of Joseph Athias, 
Amsterdam, 1661 ; of Jablonski, Berlin, 1699; of Van der 
Hooght, Amsterdam, 1706; of Michaelis, 1720; of Hou- 
bigant, 1753, — a brief notice of Dr. Kennicott's editorial 
labors closes this short review of Hebrew editions of the 
Bible printed from movable types. 

During the reign of George III of England the want of 
means to meet the heavy expense attending the collection 
and collation of Hebrew manuscripts, so long felt by the 
learned, was nobly met by a liberal subscription throughout 
the kingdom, the name of His Majesty heading the list. 
The sum realized was little short of $50,000. From 1760 to 
1769 numerous persons were employed in the search for 
ancient manuscripts in England, throughout the continent of 
Europe, and elsewhere, the result being the discovery of no 
fewer than six hundred Hebrew manuscripts and sixteen of 
the Samaritan Pentateuch. Seven years' constant and care- 
ful comparison of the several manuscripts held the learned 
in suspense until, in 1776 (a year famous in other respects), 
the first volume of Dr. Kennicott's Hebrew Bible was issued 
from the Clarendon Press, at Oxford, an honor justly earned 
by that University. The first "copy" was handed the Uni- 



38 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

versity printer in the year 1773, but the care in revision, 
reading and punctuation was so absorbing — proof-sheets 
having to pass through the hands of eminent scholars at 
home and abroad before the erudite doctor would permit 
them to go to press — that three full years elapsed ere the 
long-looked-for work saw the light of day. Four years later 
the second volume was published. 

GREEK. 

The oldest version of the Hebrew Scriptures in any lan- 
guage is that known by the term Septuagint, or the seventy, 
a Greek translation made in the reign of Ptolemy Soter, 
about the year a.d. 250, or, according to some, begun in 
Soter's reign and completed under Philadelphus, his succes- 
sor. This earliest Greek version derives its distinguishing 
title either because it received the approval of the Jewish 
Sanhedrim, a body consisting of seventy-two grave and 
learned men, or because seventy persons were employed in 
making the translation. Numerous editions of the Septua- 
gint have been published in various places throughout 
Christendom. It is doubtful if this Greek version, though 
made by Jews, and with the sanction of their highest ecclesi- 
astical court, ever obtained general authority, or that it was 
so esteemed as to be read in the synagogue instead of the 
Hebrew original. When controversies between Jews and 
Christians had grown into importance the latter were wont 
to appeal to the Septuagint as Jewish authority in favor 
of their views respecting the Messiah, but the latter as 



TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. 39 

promptly and earnestly denied the accuracy of the transla- 
tion, which soon became odious in their eyes. A Greek 
translation made by a Jew named Aquila, in the interest of 
Jewish prejudices and opinions, became a rival to the Sep- 
tuagint, and in a short time supplanted it in the estimation 
of Jews everywhere. The Septuagint version is not without 
its defects. A learned Christian writer remarks: "Great value 
should unquestionably be attached to this version. In the 
criticism and interpretation of the Old Testament it holds a 
conspicuous place. Yet most of the translators were incom- 
petent. They often mistook the sense of the original. They 
indulged in many liberties with regard to the text. They 
inserted glosses and paraphrased with unmeaning latitude. 
Their errors are neither few nor small. On the whole, the 
translation ys, free rather than literal.'^ 

LATIN. 

Many translations of the Bible, or portions of it, were 
made in Latin from the earliest period of the Christian 
church, but great inconvenience was felt, and much confu- 
sion ensued, when the various texts were brought together 
for comparison. St. Augustine, desirous of securing a trans- 
lation deserving of ecclesiastical approval, wrote to St. Jer- 
ome to say that, as the readings of the Latin manuscripts 
were so various, it was doubtful if any doctrine could be 
proved by them, there being as many texts (versions) as 
copies, he (Jerome) would confer a lasting benefit on the 
church by translating the Septuagint into Latin. In the 
year 382 Jerome produced the Roman Psalter^ and subse- 
quently added translations of the other books until the 



40 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

work was completed. Jerome further undertook, between 
the years 385 and 405, Latin translations of portions of the 
Bible from the original Hebrew, having for this purpose 
obtained a copy from the synagogue. This translation 
brought the good man no great honor, his reward at first 
being obloquy, censure and persecution. He was accused 
of introducing novelties calculated to distract the churches 
and ultimately lead to the adoption and inculcation of here- 
sies. Even St. Augustine, Jerome's friend, feared to read it 
in the churches, but as years wore on he came to look upon 
this translation with favor. It must here be remarked that 
Jerome did translate the New Testament from the Greek, 
but he amended the old Latin edition by comparing its 
various readings with such Greek manuscripts as he could 
command, expunging corruptions and otherwise preparing 
a uniform Latin text. It has been considered as one of 
the best critical helps toward restoring the true text of the 
Greek version. 

The Latin version of St. Jerome is called the Vulgate, 
because it was in the vulgar tongue — the language spoken 
by the common people. 

The first translation of the New Testament into the 
Latin tongue from the original Greek was made by the 
famous Erasmus, and published, with his edition of the 
Greek Testament, anno 15 16. This edition varies but little 
from the Vulgate. Pope Leo X, to whom it was dedicated, 
highly commended Erasmus for his work, but the right of 
private judgment asserted its power in the censures which 
it met with from several learned men of the Roman Catholic 
church. The edition published at Basle in 1535 is now the 



TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. 41 

Standard one, having undergone several revisions and cor- 
rections since its appearance in 15 16. 

Beza's translation of the New Testament was issued in 
folio form by Stephani, of Geneva, in the year 1556. This 
translation is held in high esteem by Protestant scholars of 
every denomination. 

As it falls not within the scope of this work to recount 
the numerous Latin translations which followed Beza's ver- 
sion, we proceed to take a cursory glance at a few of the 
versions in the languages of Europe, and first of the 

SAXON AND ENGLISH. 

Adhelm. About the year 706 the Psalter was translated 
by Adhelm, the first bishop of Shelborne, into the Anglo- 
Saxon language (the parent of modern English), and not 
long after he produced a Saxon translation of the Four 
Gospels. This was followed by a translation of the entire 
Bible by the Venerable Bede. Other translations of select 
portions followed, including a version of the Psalms by King 
Alfred, who died, however, before he had completed his 
praiseworthy undertaking, in the year 900. To Elfric, arch- 
bishop of Canterbury, anno 990-5, is attributed a Saxon 
translation of the Pentateuch, Joshua, Kings, Esther, Judith 
and the Maccabees. The entire Anglo-Saxon version has 
never been printed. 

A very long period elapsed before further efforts were 
made to multiply versions or editions of the Scriptures in 
the Anglo-Saxon language. About the year 1290 the first 
English translation of the sacred Scriptures was issued. 
The translator is unknown. Only three manuscript copies 



42 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

are believed to exist. A hermit of Yorkshire, one Richard 
RoUe, is reputed as a translator of various portions of the 
Scriptures. Pictorial representations of the leading events 
recorded in the Bible began about this time to appear on 
the windows of English churches as a means of conveying 
to the body of worshipers some idea of the facts upon which 
the Christian religion is founded. 

Wickliffe's version of the New Testament appeared 
about the year 1378, which was quickly followed by his 
translation of the Old Testament. Wickliffe, "The Morning 
Star" of the Reformation, not having confidence in his 
knowledge of Hebrew and Greek, made his translation 
from the Latin Vulgate. Wickliffe's version remained in 
manuscript until the year 1731, when Mr. John Lewis, of 
London, issued a folio edition, and in 1810 the Rev. H. H. 
Baber, of the British Museum, published a handsome edi- 
tion in quarto. John Wickliffe was rector of Lutterworth, 
in Leicestershire, England. 

In the year 1387 John Trevisa, a Cornishman, canon of 
Westburg, in Wiltshire, and vicar of Berkley, in Yorkshire, 
and one who had been a great traveler, is said to have fin- 
ished a translation of the Old and New Testaments at the 
desire of his munificent patron, Thomas Lord Berkley. 

William Tyndale's labors come next under notice. 
Tyndale, or Tindal, who was a native of Wales, left his 
country and retired to Antwerp on account of his religious 
principles. Here he undertook the work of translating, and 
about the year 1524 he printed an edition of Matthew, at 
Hamburg, and shortly after committed to the press an edi- 
tion of Mark, at Cologne. The printing of the latter was 



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ftotre iif.bayee/anbbavenot^in0e ro edte:anb 3 wyll not let 
f ^em beparte faffin^e lefic rl^cy pepyjf^c in t^e ia>aye.2f nb bid 
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t^ct»yfbeme6a0f^u!befu^yj€fo0rc^r«ams3f«twbeif&nb3€^ 
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(ere ati^ a feawc fyf|^e6.2(nb be cdmaimbeb t^e people to jy t 
?>ouneontbe0rounbe,anbeoK*rbe fereIot»e6/anb tbefyflbc« 
(^b («4ve tbanFf / anb braFc th^m/anb 0avc to ^yd bifaplee/ 
an"^ l;yebifdplce0avc^^ctotbepeople. 'Znbthtydlatc/an'^ 
tt>2refufl7fcb.anbrbcyr4>fc t?ppcoft^eb20?emcatc tbatx»<t* 
leffe\>ii.baefettfbll.€b«)^tb^ ate were iiil, iH.men/bejybc 
tremenanb^ylbr€n.a[fib|>cfentatrayetbepeop!e/anbtcFc 
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^^ l^c onftrercb anb faibt tmto t^tm: 'Zi tven 

yefayt/trcfbalfb^^^ fayrc webber.anbtbatbecaufetbc Otc 
y6reeb:tttbentom!0e:yefay€/tobaye(b«lbefonfewebber/« 
XiK-Wl. tbotbccaufcr^c ffyeifirrabekod^brccb^Oycypoaytt/yc 

(5 ^■ 




TINDALE'S NEW TESTAMENT— A.D. 1525. 

(British Museum, Grenville Library.) 
The only remaining fragment, consisting of 31 leaves, of the first edition printed at Cologne 
in 1525. The earliest specimen of a printed version of the Scriptures ni KngUsti. 



TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. 43 

interrupted by the violent and crafty opposition of Coch- 
laeus. 

From Cologne Tyndale proceeded to Worms, where he 
commenced to print another edition — now of the New Tes- 
tament complete — in octavo, from which he omitted the 
glosses of his previous issues, because they had brought 
upon him the censures of Cochlseus and others. At Antwerp, 
in 1526, he published a third edition; in 1527 a fourth edi- 
tion; in 1529 a fifth edition; in 1534 a sixth edition, and in 
1535 (during his imprisonment) there were issued a seventh, 
eighth and ninth edition of the New Testament. Many 
other editions of Tyndale's Testament were printed and 
circulated, but as fast as they arrived in England they were 
seized and burnt. Tyndale was assisted in his arduous 
labors by the learned John Fryth and Friar William Roye, 
both of whom suffered martyrdom, Fryth at Smithfield, 
London, in 1552, and Roye in Portugal about the same 
time. Henry VIII exerted his royal influence to have 
Tyndale arrested and imprisoned at Antwerp, where he 
remained in close confinement about a year and a half. 
During this time his Testament passed through several 
editions. In 1536 Tyndale was condemned to death by an 
assembly at Augsburg, in pursuance of a decree by the 
emperor, and soon after was strangled at Villefort, a place 
near Brussels, and his body reduced to ashes. It is said 
that his exemplary behavior and conversation during his 
imprisonment? so far influenced the jailor and his daughter, 
as well as other members of the family, as to induce them 
to embrace his opinions. Tyndale translated several por- 
tions of the Old Testament from the Hebrew, a task for 



44 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

which, it is said, he was fully competent. For purity of style 
and the absence of obsolete words Tyndale's Testament has 
not been surpassed by any of the earlier translations. 

Myles Coverdale's translation was the first issued by 
royal authority, as well as the first printed edition of the 
whole Bible in the English language. It was not made 
from the original languages, being, as the title expresses, a 
"faithful and true translation out of the Douche and Latyn 
in to English." It was "prynted in the yeare of our Lorde 
M.D.XXXV. and fynished the fourth day of October." 
Another edition was printed in 1550, in quarto, and re- 
printed three years later, with the "contents" of the sev- 
eral chapters prefixed to the several books, but not to the 
chapters. Through the exertions of Lord Cromwell, in- 
junctions to the clergy, by the king's authority, were pub- 
lished the year following the issue of Coverdale's first edi- 
tion, ordering that every parson or proprietary of a church 
should, before the ist of August, 1536, "provide a copy of 
the whole Bible, both in Latin and English, and lay it on 
the choir for every man that would to look and read there- 
in." In 1537 Thomas Matthew published "the Old and 
New Testament truly and purely translated into Englysh," 
at Marlboro, in Hesse. This edition, which was edited by 
Coverdale, is made up of Tyndale's translation of portions 
of the Old Testament, and the whole of the New, the other 
portions being copied from Coverdale's own version. In 
1538 Coverdale published the New Testament both in Latin 
and English, under the fictitious authorship of Johan HoUy- 
bushe. For what reason he assumed the name Hollybushe 
is not known. A corrected edition of Matthew's Bible was 



TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. 45 

published in London, anno 1539, by a layman named Rich- 
ard Taverner, and in less than a year following 

Cranmer's Great Bible was published by Richard Graf- 
ton and Edward Whitchurch, "cum privilegio ad impri- 
mendum solum." Cranmer's scheme for securing a new 
translation of the Scriptures from the originals by learned 
men in the church fell through, owing partly to the failure 
of Stokesly, Bishop of London, to send in the portion 
assigned to him for translation. But, having written a pro- 
logue and preface, he encouraged the publishers to proceed 
with the undertaking. Bishop Coverdale's services in super- 
intending it, as it passed through the press, having been 
secured. The translation is Coverdale's, but from its size, 
as well as the interest Cranmer took in its issue, it has been 
designated "Cranmer's Great Bible." 

Other English editions made their appearance at various 
times and places prior to the translation made in the reign 
and by order of King James — the one now in use by Prot- 
estants. An edition of the New Testament was published 
at Geneva by the reformers who had been driven from Eng- 
land by the persecutions of Queen Mary. It was printed 
by Conrad Badius in 1557, and reprinted in 1560. The 
same year Rowland Harle published the entire Bible at 
Geneva, the translators being Bishop Coverdale, Anthony 
Gilby, William Whittingham, and others. This edition was 
reprinted at Geneva in 1570, and in London in 1575 and 
1576. At Rheims, in France, an English translation of the 
New Testament from the Vulgate was made and published 
under Roman Catholic surveillance, anno 1582. 

Archbishop Parker's Bible (or "The Bishop's Bible,") 



46 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE, 

was "imprinted at London in Povvles Church-yarde by 
Richard Jugge. M.D.LXVIII," in folio. The Archbishop 
had the Bible divided into at least fifteen parts, after the 
plan which Cranmer was unable to carry out, and allotted 
to an equal number of scholars for translation. Eight of 
the translators being bishops, this version obtained the 
appellation of The Bishop's Bible. This translation passed 
through several editions. Many of the foregoing English 
editions of the Bible were illustrated and embellished with 
cuts and ornamental letters. In 1608 the "Breeches Bible" 
was "Imprinted at London." This last has been called the 
" Breeches Bible " from the fact that the seventh verse of 
the third chapter of Genesis is translated thus: "And they 
sowed figge tree leaves together, and made themselves 
breeches." 

King James's Bible. At a conference held at Hampton 
Court in 1603 it was agreed, in pursuance of a proposal of 
Doctor John Reynolds, of Oxford, to recommend that a 
new translation be undertaken. Accordingly, the year fol- 
lowing. King James, "of blessed memory," gave orders for 
the immediate performance of this highly important work. 
It was not begun, however, until 1607. The number of 
scholars actually engaged upon the work was forty-seven, 
though the number appointed was fifty-four. In 1610 the 
work was completed, but before it was committed to the 
King's printer it underwent two revisions, the first by a 
committee of six learned men, and the second by Dr. Miles 
Smith, who wrote the preface, and Dr. Bilson. In 161 1 the 
"authorized version of the Old and New Testament " was 
issued in folio, at the sole expense of Barker, the patentee. 



TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. 47 

Dr. Smith's preface is not usually printed in American edi- 
tions, which renders an apology unnecessary for quoting the 
following passages: "Among all our joys there was no one 
that more filled our hearts than the blessed continuance 
than the preaching of God's sacred Word among us, which 
is that inestimable treasure which excelleth all the riches 
of the earth, because the fruit thereof extendeth itself not 
only to the time spent in this transitory world, but directeth 
and disposeth men unto that eternal happiness which is 
above in heaven. . . . And now at last, by the mercy of 
God and the continuance of our labours, it [the translation] 
being brought unto such a conclusion as that we have great 
hopes that the church of England shall reap good fruit 
thereby, we hold it our duty to offer it to Your Majesty, 
not only as to our King and Sovereign, but as to the prin- 
cipal mover in the work; humbly craving of Your Majesty 
that since things of this quality have ever been subject to 
the censure of ill-meaning and discontented persons, it may 
receive approbation and patronage from so learned and 
judicious a prince as Your Highness is. So that if, on 
the one side, we shall be traduced by persons at home 
or abroad, who therefore will malign us, because we are 
poor instruments to make God's holy truth to be yet more 
and more known unto the people, whom they desire still to 
keep in ignorance and darkness; or if, on the other side, we 
shall be maligned by self-conceited Brethren, who run their 
own ways and give liking unto nothing but what is framed 
by themselves, and hammered on their anvil, we may rest 
secure, supported within by the truth and innocency 
OF A GOOD conscience, having walked the ways of sim- 



48 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

plicity and integrity as before the Lord, and sustained with- 
out by the powerful protection of Your Majesty's grace and 
favour." 

The Douay Bible. In the year 1609-10 Mr. Lawrence 
Kellam published an English version of the Bible, prepared 
by learned men in the Roman Catholic College of Douay, or 
Douai, in France. The translators declare on the title that 
it has been "faithfvlly translated into English ovt of the 
Avthentical Latin; and diligently conferred with the He- 
brew, Greeke, and other Editions in diuers languages." The 
Roman Catholic edition of the New Testament, published at 
Rheims in 1582, has already been noticed. 

An edition of the Douay Bible was published in Dublin 
in the year 1791, with the sanction of Dr. Troy, archbishop 
of that diocese, and under the same authority the seventh 
edition of the Rheimish New Testament was published in 
1803. In 1820 a stereotype edition of the New Testament 
was issued by Coyne, and in 1824 Haydock published an 
edition of the Holy Bible complete. A year later, with 
Archbishop Murray's sanction — successor to Archbishop 
Troy — Coyne published a stereotyped edition of the Old 
and New Testaments. 

A fitting conclusion to these brief notices of English 
versions may be found in the words of Myles Coverdale : 
"Now whereas the most famous interpreters of all geve 
sondrye judgmentes on the text (so far as it is done by the 
spiryte of knowledge in the Holye Gooste,) methynke no 
man shoulde be offended thereat, for they referre theyr 
doyngs in mekenes to the spiryte of trueth in the congre- 
gation of God: and sure I am, that there commethe more 



TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. 49 

knowledge and understondinge of the Scripture by their 
sondrye translacions, than by all the gloses of our sophis- 
ticall doctours. For that one interpreteth somthynge ob- 
scurely in one place, the same translateth another (or els he 
himself) more manifestly by a more playne vocable of the 
same meaning in another place." 

WELSH. 

About the year 1526 an edition of the Pentateuch in the 
Welsh language was published, but by whom the translation 
was made is not known. In pursuance of an act of Parlia- 
ment passed in the fifth year of Elizabeth's reign a trans- 
lation of the New Testament was made by Dr. Richard 
Davis, Thomas Huet and William Salesbury, and published 
in 1567. The Old Testament was translated by the Bishop 
of Llandaff, Dr. William Morgan, and published, with a 
revised edition of the Welsh New Testament, in 1588. As 
those editions were in folio, and intended chiefly for use 
in churches, the public want remained unprovided for until 
1630, when, at the sole expense of two or more citizens of 
London, an octavo edition for general use was printed. 

IRISH. 

Richard Fitzralph, Archbishop of Armagh, is the first 
person on record known to have had in his possession any 
part of the Holy Scriptures in the Irish tongue. It is said 
that, having been cited on a certain occasion to appear 
before the Pope and cardinals, he concealed, on leaving 
Armagh, a version of the New Testament, made, probably, 
by himself, in one of the walls of his cathedral, having the 



50 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE, 

following remark at the end of the manuscript: "When this 
book is found truth will be revealed to the world, or Christ 
will shortly appear." About the year a.d. 1530, one hundred 
and seventy years after Fitzralph's death, the manuscript 
was found by workmen employed in repairing the church. 
In 15 7 1 a font of Irish types was sent to Nicholas Walsh, 
chancellor, and John Kearney, treasurer, of St. Patrick's 
Cathedral, Dublin, "in hopes that God in mercy would 
raise up some to translate the New Testament into the 
mother tongue of the Irish people." The work was com- 
menced by them, and continued by Nehemiah Donnellan, 
Archbishop of Tuam, but it remained for his immediate suc- 
cessor in that see, Dr. William Daniel, or O'Donnell, to com- 
plete the translation, which was published in 1602. Subse- 
quently a gentleman named King executed a translation of 
the Old Testament, at the expense of Dr. William Bedell, 
Bishop of Kilmore, from the English version. When King 
had finished his translation Dr. Bedell carefully compared 
it with the Hebrew, Septuagint, and other versions. Owing 
to the troubles in Ireland the manuscript, which was in- 
trusted to the care of Dr. Henry Jones, Bishop of Meath, 
was not published until 1685. Hon. Robert Boyle bore the 
expense of that issue. 

MANX. 

Translations of the Old and New Testament into the 
language spoken in the Isle of Man were effected between 
the years 1756 and 1772 by Dr. Thomas Wilson, Bishop of 
Sodor and Man, and his successor, Dr. Hildesley. In 1775 
the first edition was printed at AVhitehaven. 



TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE, 51 

GERMAN. 

A translation from the Vulgate was printed in 1466. The 
translator is unknown. Luther commenced his labors as a 
translator in 15 17, when he published in German the seven 
penitential Psalms. In 1522 his version of the New Testa- 
ment appeared; in 1523 he issued the five books of Moses, 
and at intervals continued to publish additional portions 
until 1532, when the entire work was completed. Luther 
availed himself of the invaluable assistance of Philip Me- 
lancthon and other competent persons in the revision of 
his great undertaking. 

FRENCH. 

In 1 160 a French translation of the Bible, by Peter 
Waldo, was in circulation among the Waldenses. Jane of 
Burgundy, queen consort of Philip, has the honor of being 
the first to encourage the work of translating the sacred 
Scriptures into the French language, by causing a version of 
the selections of epistles and gospels in the Roman Missal 
to be made by Jean de Vignes. Charles V employed Raoul 
de Praelles to translate the Old Testament, which he exe- 
cuted as far as the Psalms, and in subsequent years other 
portions of the Scriptures were rendered into the French 
tongue. In 1535, at Neufchatel, and in 1540, at Geneva, the 
French Bible, complete, was published by Robert Peter 
Olivetan, assisted by John Calvin, a relative of his. In 
subsequent years many and various were the editions issued 
in that country. 



52 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE, 

SPANISH. 

In the year 1280 a translation of the Bible into the 
Spanish language, by order of Alphonso, King of Castile, 
was published. A translation from the Vulgate was pub- 
lished at Valencia, anno 1478. Pinel had a version of the 
Old Testament printed in 1553 for the Jews, which in after 
years passed through numerous editions. In 1569 Reyna's 
version of the Scriptures was published at Basle, and a 
revised edition in 1602, at Amsterdam. A new version of 
the entire Bible, made by San Miguel, was published at 
Madrid in 1794, in ten folio volumes, and embellished with 
three hundred engravings. 

RUSSIAN. 

Ernest Gluck, a Lutheran clergyman, was the first to 
make a translation of the Scriptures into the Russian lan- 
guage. It is said that this version, with Gluck's extensive 
library, was destroyed during the siege of Marienburg, in 
1702. Before Gluck's time the Pentateuch and others of 
the sacred books were translated into the Polish-Russian 
dialect by a physician named Skorina. In 18 19 the Em- 
peror Alexander caused an edition of the Four Gospels to 
be published, having the Slavonic and Russian texts in 
parallel columns. Portions of the Old Testament have also 
been published. An edition of ten thousand copies of the 
Old Testament was ready for publication in 1824, but the 
" Holy Synod " declined to sanction its issue. 



TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. 53 

PORTUGUESE. 

At Amsterdam, in 1681, the New Testament and part of 
the Old were published. In 1748 a Spanish version of the 
Old Testament was issued at Batavia, in parts, from 1748 to 
1753. Pereera's versions, made from the Vulgate, were pub- 
lished at Lisbon in 1781 and 1783. 

BOHEMIAN. 

The first translation, made from the Vulgate, was issued 
at Prague in 1488. A Protestant translation, made from the 
originals, was issued between the years 1579 and 1593, in six 
quarto volumes. 

SUNDRY VERSIONS. 

Ulphilas, about a.d. 370, "with unwearied industry trans- 
lated the Old and New Testament " from the original Greek 
into the Gothic tongue. During the eighth century a trans- 
lation was made of the Old and New Testament into the 
Georgian language by St. Euphemius, Avhose autograph of 
the version is said still to be preserved in the Georgian 
monastery at Mount Athos. A Polish version is reported to 
have been made by Andrew de Jassowitz, about 1410, by 
order of Sophia, wife of Casimir Jagellon, King of Poland, 
and at Cracow, in 1561, three Polish versions were published. 
A translation of the sacred volume into Amharic, or vulgar 
language of Abyssinia, was made by Abu Rumi, an Abys- 
sinian, under the direction of M. Asselin de Cherville, French 
consul at Cairo. In 1648 a Wallachian version was printed 
at Belgrade. In 1666 Dr. Lazarus Seaman's translation of 
the New Testament into the Turkish language was printed 



54 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE, 

at Oxford. Bobooski's translation of the entire Bible came 
into the possession of the British and Foreign Bible Society 
in 1 8 14, and was immediately placed in the hands of compe- 
tent persons for revision. This Turkish version of the New 
Testament appeared in 1820, and the Old Testament in 
1828. At Venice, in 147 1, Nicolao Malermi's Italian trans- 
lation was printed, and in 1532 Antonio Bruccioli's transla- 
tion of the Bible into Latin was also printed at Venice. Six 
years later Bruccioli's version, revised by Harmonious, was 
published — also at Venice. A Flemish translation was 
printed at Cologne in 1475, ^^d at Delft in 1477. A new 
translation from the originals, commenced in 16 18, was not 
issued from the press until 1637. At Rochelle, in 1571, the 
New Testament rendered into the Basque dialect was first 
printed. A version of the New Testament for the Croats 
was published at Tubingen in 155 1, and in 1584 both Old 
and New Testaments were printed, for the same people, at 
Wittemberg. Calliergi's translation of the New Testament 
into modern Greek was printed at Geneva in 1638. An 
edition was printed at London in 1703 with a preface by a 
monk named Seraphin, which gave such offense to the patri- 
arch at Constantinople that it was suppressed, and such 
copies as could be found were burned. 

The first translation of the Bible into the language of 
one of the North American tribes — a Virginian tribe — was 
made in 1663 by the Rev. John Elliott. 

The first English Bible printed in America was issued 
privately in Boston in 1752. The second edition was printed 
and published, by order of Congress, in 1781, under the 
supervision of Bishop White. 



CHRONOLOGICAL INDEX TO THE BIBLE. 55 
PERIOD I. 

FROM THE CREATION TO THE DELUGE, 1656 YEARS. 

A. M. B. C. HISTORICAL EVENTS. WHERE RECORDED. 

I 4004 Creation of the world Genesis j, 2. 

1 4004 Fall of our first parents, Adam and Eve. 

Promise of a Saviour " iii. 

2 4002 Cain born " iv, i. 

3 4001 Abel born " iv, 2. 

129 3875 Abel murdered by his brother Cain ... " iv, 8. 

130 3874 Seth born, Adam being 130 years old . . " v, 3. 

622 3382 Enoch born " v, 18, 19. 

687 3317 Methuselah born " v, 21. 

930 3074 Adam dies, aged 930 years " v, 5. 

987 3017 Enoch translated, aged 365 years " v, 24. 

1042 2962 Seth dies, aged 912 years " v, 8. 

1056 2948 Noah born " v, 28, 29. 

1536 2468 The deluge threatened, and Noah com- \ " vi, 3-22. 

missioned to preach repentance dur- >• I Peter iii, 20. 

ing 120 years ) II " ii, 5. 

1656 2348 Methuselah dies, aged 969 years Genesis v, 27. 

1656 2348 Noah, 600 years old, enters the ark .... " vii, 6, 7. 

PERIOD II. 

FROM THE DELUGE TO THE CALL OF ABRAHAM, 427 YEARS. 

A. M. B. C. HISTORICAL EVENTS. WHERE RECORDED. 

1657 2347 Noah, with his family, leaves the ark ) p, ••• o 

after the deluge; offering sacrifices, [• ^^.^^T"^'^®' ^°- 
he receives the covenant of safety . . . ) ^^> > ^7* 

1770 2234 Babel built Genesis xi. 

1770 2234 The confusion of languages and dis- 

persion of mankind " xi. 

1 771 2233 Nimrod lays the first foundation of the 

Babylonian or Assyrian monarchy . . " x, 8-11. 
1816 2188 Mizraim lays the foundation of the 

Egyptian monarchy " x, 13. 

2006 1998 Noah dies, aged 950 years " ix, 29. 

2008 1996 Abram (or Abraham) born " xi, 26. 



b6 



HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE, 



PERIOD III. 

FROM THE CALL OF ABRAHAM TO THE EXODUS OF ISRAEL 
FROM EGYPT, 43O YEARS. 



A.M. 
2068 


B.C. 
1936 


2083 
2091 


192 1 
I9I3 


2094 
2107 


I9IO 
1997 



2108 

2133 
2145 

2148 

2168 

2183 
2245 



2258 

2265 

2275 
2288 

2298 

2315 

2368 
2430 
2433 
2473 
2513 



HISTORICAL EVENTS. 



WHERE RECORDED. 



896 

871 

856 

836 

821 

759 



746 

739 
729 
716 

706 
689 

636 

574 
571 
531 
491 



Xll, 



1-4. 



XIV, 1-24. 
xvi. 



Abram called from Chaldean idolatry, 

at 60 years of age Genesis xi, 31. 

Abram's second call to Canaan 

Abram's victory over the kings, and 

rescue of Lot .... 

Ishmael born, Abram being 86 years old 
God's covenant with Abram, changing 

his name to Abraham; circumcision 

instituted ; Lot delivered, and Sodom, 

Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim de- 
stroyed by fire on account of their^ 

abominations 

Isaac born, Abraham being 100 years old 

Abraham offers Isaac as a burnt sacri- / tt i. 

ficetoGod ^Heb.xi,i7,i9, 

) James 11, 21. 
Sarah, Abraham's wife, dies, aged 127 

years Genesis xxiii, i. 

" xxiv. 



XVll-XlX. 

xxi. 

xxii. 



Isaac marries Rebecca 

Jacob and Esau born, Isaac being 60 

years old " 

Abraham dies, aged 175 years " 

Jacob goes to his uncle Laban, in Syria, 

and marries his daughters, Leah and 

Rachel « 

Joseph born, Jacob being 90 years old. . " 

Jacob returns to Canaan " 

Joseph sold as a slave by his brethren. . " 
He explains Pharaoh's dreams and is 

made governor of Egypt " 

Joseph's brethren settle in Egypt " 

Jacob foretells the advent of Messiah, 

and dies in Egypt, aged 147 years. ... " 

Joseph dies, aged no years. . .'. " 

Aaron born Exod. vi, 20, vii,7 

Moses born '* ii, i-io. 

Moses flees into Midian " ii, 11-13. 

God commissions Moses to deliver Israel " iii, 2. 



XXV, 26. 
XXV, 7, 8. 



xxvin. 
XXX, 23, 24. 
xxxi, 32. 
xxxvii. 

xli. 
xliii, 44. 

xlix. 
1,26. 



CHRONOLOGICAL INDEX TO THE BIBLE. 57 



PERIOD IV. 

FROM THE EXODUS OF ISRAEL FROM EGYPT TO THE BUILDING 

OF Solomon's temple, 487 years. 

A. M. B. C. HISTORICAL EVENTS. WHERE RECORDED. 

2513 1491 Miraculous passage of the Red Sea by 

the Israelites Exodus xiv, 15. 

2514 1490 The law deHvered on Sinai " xix-xl. 

2552 1452 Miriam, sister of Moses, dies, aged 130. Numbers xx, i. 

2552 1452 Aaron dies, aged 123 years " xx, 28, 29. 

2553 1451 Moses dies, aged 120 years, Joshua being 

ordained his successor Deut. xxxiv. 

2553 1451 The Israelites pass the river Jordan, the 

manna ceases, and Jericho taken. . . .Joshua i-vi. 

2561 1443 Joshua dies, aged 1 10 years " xxiv. 

2849 1 155 Samuel born I Samuel i, 19. 

2888 1 1 16 Eli, the high priest, dies. Ark of God" 

taken by the Philistines " iv, i. 

2909 1095 Saul anointed king of Israel " x, xi, 12. 

2919 1085 David born 

2941 1063 David anointed to be king, and slays / " xvi, 13. 

Goliath \ " xvii,4,9. 

2949 1055 Saul is defeated in battle, and in despair 

kills himself David acknowledged 

king by Judah " xxxi. 

2956 1048 Ishbosheth, king of Israel, assassinated, 

and the kingdom unitedunderDavid.il Samuel i. 

2957 1047 Jerusalem taken from the Jebusites by 

David, and made the royal city " v. 

2969 1035 David commits adultery with Bathsheba 

and contrives the death of her hus- 
band, Uriah " xi. 

2970 1034 David brought to repentance for his sin 

by Nathan the prophet, sent to him 
■ by the Lord " xii. 

2971 1033 Solomon born " xii,24. 

2981 1023 Absalom rebels against his father and 

is slain by Joab xv, 18. 

2989 1015 David causes Solomon to be proclaimed 

king, defeating rebellion of Adonijah.I Kings i. 

2990 1014 David dies, aged 70 years " ii. 

3000 1004 Solomon's temple finished, after seven 

years' building " vi, vii. 



58 



HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE, 



PERIOD V. 

FROM THE BUILDING OF SOLOMON's TEMPLE TO THE DE- 
STRUCTION OF JERUSALEM AND CAPTIVITY OF 
THE JEWS IN BABYLON, 412 YEARS. 



975 
9.8 

955 
953 
930 
929 
929 
918 
914 
897 
896 
892 
885 
884 
878 
857 
S39 
825 
810 
784 

773 
772 
761 

759 

758 
742 

730 
726 

698 

643 
641 



KINGS OF JUDAH BEGAN 
TO REIGN. 



KINGS OF ISRAEL BEGAN 
TO REIGN. 



PROPHETS. 



.Ahijah, Shemaiah. 



Rehoboam Jereboam I 

Abijah, or Abijam. ... *' 

Asa Nadab (954) Azariah. 

Baasha Hanani. 

Elah Jehu. 

Zimri. 
Omri. 

Ahab Elijah, 910-896. 

Jehoshaphat " Micaiah. 

" Ahaziah < Elisha, 896-838. 

" Jehoram, or Joram . . . Jahaziel. 

Jehoram " 

Ahaziah " 

Athaliah Jehu Jehoiada. 

Joash, or Jehoahaz ... " 

" - Jehoahaz Jonah, 856-784. 

Amaziah Jehoash. 

" Jeroboam II. 

Uzziah, or Azariah " Amos, 810-785. 

" Anarchy, 1 1 years . . . Hosea, 810-725. 

" Zechariah Joel, 810-660. 

" Shallum; Menahem. 

" Pekahiah Isaiah, 810-698. 

Pekah. 

Jotham " Micah, 758-699. 

Ahaz « Oded. 

" Hoshea. 

Hezekiah (Captivity, 721) Nahum, 720-698. 

Manasseh " 

" Zephaniah,640-6o9. 

" Jeremiah, 628-586. 

" Habakkuk,6i2-598. 

" Daniel, 606-534. 



Amon " 

Josiah " 

610 Jehoahaz, or Shallum. " 

610 Jehoiakim " 

599 Jehoiachin, or Coniah. " 

599 Zedekiah. 

588 Babylonian captivity Obadiah, 588-583. 



CHRONOLOGICAL INDEX TO THE BIBLE. 59 



PERIOD VI. 

FROM THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM BY NEBUCHADNEZ- 
ZAR TO THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, 588 YEARS. 

B.C. HISTORICAL EVENTS. PROPHETS. 

588 Destruction of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans, 
and captivity of the Jews. 

538 Babylon taken by Cyrus Ezekiel, 595-536. 

536 Proclamation of Cyrus; Zerubbabel and 

Joshua. 
534 Foundation of the temple. 
529 Artaxerxes (Cambyses) forbids the work. 
520 Favorable decree of Ahasuerus (Darius Hys- 

taspes) Haggai, 520-518. 

518 Esther made queen Zechariah, 520-518. 

515 The second temple finished. 
510 Haman's plot frustrated. 
484 Xerxes, king of Persia. 
464 Artaxerxes Longimanus. 
457 Ezra sent to govern Jerusalem. 
445 Nehemiah sent as governor. 

423 Darius Nothus Malachi, 436-420. 

335 Alexander the Great invades Persia; estab- 
lishes the Macedonian or Grecian empire. 
332 Jaddus high priest. 
323 Alexander dies. 

320 Ptolemeeus Lagus surprises Jerusalem. 
277 Septuagint version made by order of Ptole- 

mseus Philadelphus. 
170 Antiochus Epiphanes takes Jerusalem. 
167 Flis persecution. 
166 Judas Maccabseus governor. 
161 Jonathan governor. 
152 He becomes high priest. 
143 Simon : treaty with the Romans and Lace- 
demonians. 
135 John Hyrcanus. 
107 Judas (Aristobulus) high priest and king. 

88 Anna the prophetess born. 

63 Jerusalem taken by Pompey and Judea made 
a Roman province. 

40 Herod made king. 

28 Augustus Caesar emperor of Rome. 



60 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 



PERIOD VI — Continued. 

B. C. HISTORICAL EVENTS. 

19 The poet Virgil dies. 

18 Herod begins to rebuild the temple. 

4 John the Baptist born. 

4 Christ born, four jears before the era known as A.D. 

PERIOD VII. 

FROM THE' BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST TO THE END OF THE 

FIRST CENTURY. 

A. D. HISTORICAL EVENTS. WHERE RECORDED. 

Nativity of Jesus Christ, four years before a.d. i .Luke ii, 1-16. 

8 Jesus visits Jerusalem " ii, 41-52. 

22 Pilate sent from Rome as governor of Judea. . . *' iii, i. 

25 John the Baptist begins his ministry Matt, iii, i. 

26 Jesus baptized by John " iii, i. 

29 Jesus Christ crucified, and rose from the dead. . " xxvii,xxviii. 

36 Saul converted Acts ix, xiii, 9. 

38 Conversion of the Gentiles " x. 

44 James beheaded by Herod; Peter liberated by 

an angel " xii, 1-19. 

63 Paul sent a prisoner to Rome " xxvi, 28. 

65 The Jewish war begins. 

66 Paul suffers martyrdom at Rome, by order of 

Nero II Tim. iv, 6, 7. 

67 The Roman general raises the siege of Jerusa- 

lem, by which an opportunity is afforded for 
the Christians to retire to Pella, beyond Jor- 
dan, as admonished by Christ Matt.xxiv,i6-20 

70 Jerusalem besieged and taken by TitusVespasian, 

when 1, 100,000 Jews perished by famine, sword, 
fire and crucifixion, besides 97,000 who were 
sold as slaves and vast multitudes Avho per- 
ished in other parts of Judea Luke xix,4i-44. 

71 Jerusalem and its temple razed to their founda- 

tions Matt, xxiv, 2. 

95 John banished to the isle of Patmos by Domitian.Rev. i, 9. 

96 John writes the Revelation. 

97 John liberated from exile, and writes his gospel. 
100 John, the last surviving apostle, dies, about 100 

years old. 



PART II-THE OLD TESTAMENT. 



THE divine authority of the Old Testament rests, for us, 
primarily on the declarations of our Lord and of those 
whom He inspired. For us — no other argument is requisite. 
But if the Old Testament Scriptures are genuine and au- 
thentic, they also are supported by miracle; they are sus- 
tained by the exercise of the gift of prophecy; they are con- 
firmed by their superhuman excellence and divine beauty. 
Moses conversed with Jehovah "face to face." Joshua, Eli- 
jah, Samuel, David, spoke and acted avowedly under divine 
authorization. Isaiah, Jeremiah and the other prophets were 
enabled to declare continually, "Thus saith the Lord." So 
that either our Lord and His apostles were mistaken, and 
the Old Testament writers themselves were deceivers or 
were deceived, or the Old Testament rests on the same 
divine authority as that on which we rest the New. 

The original language of the Old Testament is Hebrew, 
with the exception of certain portions of the books of Ezra 
and Daniel, and a single verse in the prophecies of Jeremiah, 
which are written in the cognate Chaldee language. The 
Hebrew language is called after the people to whom it was 



62 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

vernacular in the time of their independence — the posterity 
of Abraham, who are denominated Hebrews. During the 
long Babylonish captivity the mass of the Jewish people, 
who were born and educated in Babylon and the regions 
adjacent, adopted of necessity the language of the country, 
— that is, the Aramaean or Chaldee language. This language 
was spoken in Syria, Mesopotamia and Babylonia; the He- 
brew, or Canaanitish, in Palestine, and with little variation 
in Phoenicia and the Phoenician colonies. The Hebrew is 
supposed by many to have been the original language of 
mankind. After it became a dead language — which it did 
probably somewhere in the second century before Christ — 
it still continued, as the dialect of the sacred books, to be 
read and explained in the synagogues, and it was a subject 
of learned study among the rabbins. The collection of crit- 
ical observations made on the Hebrew text by these Jewish 
scholars has received the name of Masorah: they themselves 
are styled after it, Masorites. 

The principal countries mentioned in the Old Testament, 
except Egypt, are situated on the western border of the 
Asiatic continent. In that quarter of the world the first 
man was created — there dwelt the first long-lived patriarchs 
and the descendants of Noah till long after the deluge — 
there the great monarchies of Assyria, Babylon and Persia 
were founded and flourished. The ruins of stately palaces 
and of other magnificent buildings, which are still to be seen 
throughout the countries that formed the Assyrian, Baby- 



GEOGRAPHT OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. 63 

/bnian and Persian, and the Grecian and Roman, empires in 
Asia, sufficiently attest the multitude and riches of its an- 
cient inhabitants, and corroborate the astonishing accounts 
transmitted to us by different historians. 

Paradise, or the garden of Eden, is supposed to have 
been situated in Armenia, near the celebrated river Euphra- 
tes. The country called Palestine (or the land of Judea), 
Syria (including Phoenicia), Asia Minor (now called Natolia), 
Mesopotamia (now termed Diarbeck), Chaldea, Assyria and 
Arabia constitute the principal countries noticed in the Old 
Testament scriptures, and are all in Asia. Egypt, which is 
on the northeast coast of Africa, is separated from Asia only 
by a narrow neck of land, called the Isthmus of Suez, and 
the Red Sea, now called the Arabian Gulf. 

Asia is celebrated as being far superior to Africa, or even 
Europe, both in the salubrious serenity of its air and the 
rich fertility of its soil, producing the most delicious fruits 
and the most fragrant and balsamic plants, gums and spices. 

The Scriptures, however, relate chiefly to the events which 
took place in Palestine or Canaan, — where the kingdoms of 
Israel and Judah flourished, — where the temple of God was 
erected by King Solomon, — where most of the inspired 
Scriptures were written, — where our Lord Jesus Christ ac- 
complished the all-important work of human redemption, 
and where the apostles of the Saviour were supernaturally 
qualified to go forth among all nations to preach the gospel 
of eternal salvation, bringing sinners of every tribe inio the 
kingdom of the Messiah. 

Canaan was so named from Canaan, the son of Ham, the 
son of Noah. It lay between the Mediterranean Sea and 



64 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

the mountains of Arabia, extending from Egypt on the south 
to Phoenicia on the north. It was bounded on the east by 
Arabia Deserta; on the south by Arabia Petrsea, Idumea 
and Egypt; on the west by the Mediterranean (called in 
Scripture the Great Sea), and on the north by the mountains 
of Lebanon, in Syria, Its length from the city of Dan, which 
stood at the foot of those mountains, to Beersheba, which 
was situated at the southern extremity of the land, is about 
two hundred miles, and its breadth from the shores of the 
Mediterranean to the eastern border is about ninety miles. 
This country is known to us by several significant names 
besides that of Canaan. It is called the Land of Promise, 
from the fact of its having been promised to Abraham and 
his family; Palestine, from the Philistines; Judea, from the 
tribe of Judah possessing its most fertile division. It is 
frequently called the Holy Land, from the circumstances 
recorded in the Holy Scriptures, especially as the ministry 
of Christ was exercised in that country, and as there the 
obedience and death and resurrection of Christ took place 
for our eternal salvation. 

On the completion of the work of redemption the apos- 
tles were commissioned to " go into all the world and preach 
the gospel to every creature," and the fulfillment of their 
ministry opens to us a new field of geography. Asia Minor, 
Greece and several other parts of the Roman empire, espe- 
cially the countries around the shores of the Mediterranean, 
might claim a particular notice in this place, did the nature 
of this work allow of an extension of the subject. 



BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. 



65 



FROM GENESIS TO ESTHER. 



Genesis Moses , 

Job 

Exodus 

Leviticus 

Numbers 

Deuteronomy 

Joshua Joshua 

Judges Samuel 

Ruth " 

I Samuel ( Compiled by Samuel, 

II Samuel \ Nathan, Gad and others. \ From 1055 to 1015. 

i At various times, 

•< those by David 

( from 1060 to 1015. 
Solomon , About loio. 



DATE IN YEARS B. C. 

From 4004 to 1635. 

2180 or 2130. 

From 1635 to 1490. 

1490. 

From 1490 to 1451. 

1451- 

From 1451 to 1425. 

From 1425 to 11 20. 

From 1241 to 1231. 

[From 1 171 to 1055. 



Psalms David and others 



Solomon's Song. . . . 

Proverbs 

Ecclesiastes 



.About 1000. 
About 977. 



I Kings ( Nathan, Gad, Ahijah, ) From 1015 to 896. 

II Kings ( Iddo, Isaiah and others. \ From 896 to 562. 

II Chron^des [ "^^^^ ^"^ others From 4004 to 536. 

Ezra Ezra From 536 to 456. 

Nehemiah Nehemiah From 455 to 420. 

Esther Ezra From 52 1 to 495. 



THE PROPHETICAL BOOKS. 



NAME. B. C. KINGS OF JUDAH. KINGS OF ISRAEL. 

Jonah 856-784. . .Joah, Amaziah or j Jehii and Jehoahaz, or 

Azariah \ Joash and Jeroboam II. 

Amos 810-725. . .Uzziah, chap, i, x ... .Jeroboam II, chap, i, i. 

Hosea 810-725. . .Uzziah, Totham, ) t u tt u • 

Ahaz, Hezikiah. . [Jeroboam II, chap. 1, i. 

Isaiah 810-698. . .Uzziah, Jotham, \ Zechariah, Shallum, 

Ahaz, Hezekiah, \ Menahem, Pekaiah, 
and Manasseh... ( Pekah and Hosea. 

Joel 810-660, or ( Uzziah or Manas 



later 



3, or ( 



seh 



Ditto. 



6Q 



HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 



THE PROPHETICAL BOOKS— Continued. 



NAMB. 

Micah . . 



B.C. 
,758-699. 



Nahum ...720-698. 



Zephaniah 
Jeremiah . 

Habakkuk 
Daniel . . . 

Obadiah. . 



. 640-609 . 
.62S-5S6. 
.612-59S. 
60^534. 



5SS-5S3. 



Ezekiel. . . 
Has^crai , . . 

Zechariah 
]Malachi . . 



and ) 
).i,i, \ 



.595-536. 
.About 520 j 
or 51S.. "j 
.520-510. 

•43^397- 



KINGS OF JUDAH. 

.Jotham, Ahaz 
Hezekiah,chap. 

. x\bout the close of 
Hezekiah's reign. 

.Josiah, chap, i, i. 

.Josiah. 

.jehoiakim. 

.During all the cap- 
tivity. 

.Soon after the siege 
of Jerusalem by 
Nebuchadnezzar. 

. Captivity. 

After the return 
from Babylon. 



KINGS OF ISRAEL, 



Pekah and Hosea. 



©anairhgij frum ^ttEm te f HtuL 



1. Adam. 

2. Seth. 

3. Enos. 

4. Cainan. 

5. Mahalaleel. 

6. Jared. 

7. Enoch. 



B.C. 4004 TO 1S36. 

8. Methuselah. 

9. Lamech. 

10. Noah. 

11. Shem. 

12. Arphaxad. 

13. Salah. 

14. Eber. 

15. Peleg. 



16. Reu. 

17. Serug. 
iS. Nahor, 

19. Terah. 

20. Abram. 

21. Isaac. 

22. Jacob. 



Reuben, 
Simeon, 
Levi, 
Judah, 
Issachar, [ 
Zebulon, j 



JACOB'S SONS. 



^ Sons of Leah. 



S. 

9- 
10. 
II. 
12. 



Dan, 

Naphtali, 

Gad, 

Asher, 

Joseph, 



- Sons of Bilhah. 



- Sons of Zilpah. 



Benjamin, [ 



Sons of Rachel. 



CANON OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. 67 

Wii\ ©Httun u^ 1^^ @Jh %%%\tm%Xiiy unit it$ furniHtmn* 

The question, How did the Bible come to us? is one of 
supreme interest. So far as the Old Testament is concerned, 
the answer is, of course, that we receive it from the Jews. If 
we are asked on what authority we receive it from the Jews, 
the answer is, the authority of Christ and His apostles. But 
still another question remains: On what authority did the 
Jews receive it.'* How came they to regard it as divinely 
inspired.'* In other words, On what authority, apart from 
that furnished by the New Testament, does the canon of 
the Old Testament rest.? How do we know, if we can know 
at all, apart from the New Testament, that these books, and 
none other, constitute God's former revelation to man.'* 

Now the main principle on which the present argument 
rests is, that the prophets occupied, under the old dispensa- 
tion, a similar position to that which the apostles held under 
the new. As what the apostles declared and taught is recog- 
nized as having divine authentication,, so what the prophets 
declared and taught is recognized likewise as having divine 
authentication. And the argument for the authority of the 
prophets is precisely the same in kind as that for the author- 
ity of the apostles. They also, or some of them, wrought 
miracles. They proved their inspiration by the utterance of 
the word of prophecy. With a boldness that was character- 
istic and peculiar they were enabled to repeat, again and 
again, "Thus saith the Lord." So that, just as the apostolic 
authority rests on the relation of the apostles to Christ, the 
prophetic authority rests on the relation of the prophets to 
Jehovah. 



6S HAXD-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

Let us see how far this principle helps us in regard to the 
books which constitute the Old Testament canon. 

I. And first, in regard to the Pentateuch. Of course, we 
must assume here that the Pentateuch was the production of 
iNIoses. The argument for the Mosaic authorship ^\'ill be pro- 
duced hereafter; meantime, we must assume that authorship 
and also the essential truthfulness of the narrative which the 
Pentateuch contains. But if we do so, what prophet could 
stand on a higher level than that which "the great lawgiver" 
occupies.' His whole life, after his commission, was a life of 
almost intimate communication with Jehovah. No other 
man, since the beginning of the world, had such frequent 
and familiar intercourse with God. It would be an interest- 
ing question how many times, in the course of his writings, 
he announces that he speaks with divine authority. And 
that announcement he ™dicated in the most wonderful 
way. His life was one long miracle. His teaching was a 
miracle. His death was a miracle. His prophecies, pointing, 
some of them, to far-distant ages, remain on record, with 
their fulfillment, to this day. 

In what way, then, does Moses himself speak of the book 
which he left behind him.' It is called "the book of the 
law"; more fully, "the book of the law of Moses"; more 
fully still, "the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord 
had commanded to Israel." We read (Deuteronomy xxxi, 
9-13, 24-26, xvii, 18, 19), "And Moses wrote this law, and 
delivered it unto the priests, the sons of Levi, which bare 
the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and unto all the elders 
of Israel. And Moses commanded them, saying. At the end 
of ever}- seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, 



CANON OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. 69 

in the feast of tabernacles, when all Israel is come to appear 
before the Lord thy God in the place which He shall choose, 
thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing. 
Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, 
and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, 
and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and 
observe to do all the words of this law : and that their chil- 
dren, which have not known anything, may hear, and learn 
to fear the Lord your God, as long as ye live in the land 
whither ye go over Jordan to possess it." "And it came to 
pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of 
this law in a book, until they were finished, that Moses com- 
manded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of 
the Lord, saying, Take this book of the law and put it in the 
side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that 
it shall be when he" (that is, the king whom the Israelites in 
some future age should set over themselves) "sitteth upon 
the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of 
this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the 
Levites: and it shall be with him, and he shall read therein 
all the days of his life : that he may learn to fear the Lord 
his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, 
to do them." The value of these passages from the Penta- 
teuch it is impossible for our present purpose to overesti- 
mate. They show us how the canon of the Old Testament 
began, and also what are the elements which go to constitute 
a canonical writing. The chief element of canonicity is, of 
course, that the writing contains a communication from God 
to man. This condition of a canonical writing the Penta- 
teuch fulfills. We must either believe that Moses was a 



70 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

deceiver or was deceived, or else that his writings did really 
contain and record communications from Jehovah. 

But the argument does not end here. The writings 
of Closes were recognized as authoritative by succeeding 
prophets. These writings, or the things which they record, 
are the basis of the whole Jewish economy. If the writings 
of Moses are not divinely authorized, not only must Moses 
himself have been a deceiver or deceived, but the whole 
succession of prophets must, notwithstanding the authenti- 
cation of their claims by the exercise of supernatural gifts, 
be placed in the same category. 

2, The case of the historical books is not so clear. We 
do not know with certainty who were their writers. It is 
probable that some of them were compilations from pre- 
viously existing compositions. Thus we have not the proved 
inspiration of the writers, taking them separately, to appeal 
to, in corroboration of the claims of these books. But we 
have proof that the books were regarded as sacred, and that 
they were so regarded by inspired men. We have proof that 
several of them were "laid up before the Lord," — that is, 
by the side of the ark, where the law was deposited. We 
have proof that the writings of prophets were incorporated 
in them, and the writers themselves, who are occasionally 
mentioned in Scripture as the penmen of sacred history, are 
expressly called prophets or seers. 

3. The prophetical books are proved to be canonical by 
the fact that they «r<? prophetical. From the days of Samuel 
onward the prophets were recognized as a distinct order of 
men in the Jewish theocracy, who derived their authority 
immediately from Jehovah, and who spoke by the inspiration 



NAMES of EGYPTIAN KINGS mentioned in the Bible. 



I. 



O 



A A 



Ui 






King of 
the North 
and South, 



Usr-maat-Ra, 
setep-en-Ra, 



? OIMWl 



se-Ra, 

son of 

the Sun» 



Ra-messu meri 

Amen. 

{/Jameses II.) 






King of Kheper-sekhet-Ra, son Shashanq meri Amen, 

the North setep-en-Ra, of the {Shishak.) 

and South, Sun, 

3 



O 



King of 
the North 
and South, 



Nefer-ka-Ra, 



Juj ^^ C ^i^u] 



son of 
the Sun, 



Shabaka. 

[Sabaco. ) 



- M C!l^!>] ¥ 



King of 
the North 
and South, 

King of 
the North 
and South, 



Ra-nefer-Tem-Khu, 



son of 
the Sun, 



ra A 

Taherq. 

( Tirhakak.) 




O 



O 



.A 



Nem-ab-Ra, 



U 



El 



son of 
the Sun, 



Nekau. 

{Necho.) 



^ 



Haa-ab-Ra, 



> 
> 



¥ GH 



son of 
the Sun, 



King of 

the North 

and South, 

^ The group of characters in this oval forms the premmtn, 
' The group of characters in this oval forms the nomen. 



Uah-ab-Ra. 

{Hophra.) 



CANON OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. 71 

of His Spirit. It is not, however, with Samuel that the era 
of written prophecy begins. From the time of Samuel to the 
reign of Uzziah, a period of about three centuries, we have 
no books of prophecy, unless we except the book of Jonah. 
The writings of the earlier prophets seem to have been 
mainly historical, like the historical notices incorporated 
into the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel, and 
what remains to us of them is preserved in the historical 
books of the Old Testament. About the time of Uzziah the 
era of written prophecy begins. During his reign there ap- 
peared Hosea, Amos, Isaiah, and, probably, Jonah and Joel. 
Micah followed immediately afterward, being contemporary 
in part with Isaiah, and then, in succession, the rest of the 
prophets whose writings have come down to us. All the 
prophetic writings vindicate their claim to canonicity by the 
fact that they are prophetic. 

4. The poetical books must be dealt with separately 
hereafter. Their canonicity depends very much upon in- 
ternal evidence and upon the recognition of them by our 
Lord and His apostles. Indeed, it must be admitted, speak- 
ing generally, that the recognition of them by our Lord and 
His apostles is, after all, the best authentication that the Old 
Testament writings possess. 

5. An interesting question now arises — how these vari- 
ous writings were preserved, and by whom they were em- 
bodied in their present form. 

Respecting the preservation of the sacred books till the 
time of Ezra and Nehemiah, our information is very scanty. 
We learn all that we know from the testimony of the Scrip- 
tures themselves. It has been already stated that when 



72 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

Moses had finished the writing of the law he "delivered it 
unto the priests the sons of Levi, and unto all the elders of 
Israel," to be taken by them and put by the side of the ark, 
in the most holy place (Deuteronomy xxxi, 9, 26). Toward 
the close of the book of Joshua it is said that "he" (Joshua) 
"wrote these words in the book of the law of God" (Joshua 
xxiv, 26). At a later period we find that Samuel, when he 
had told the people "the manner of the kingdom," wrote it 
in "the book, and laid it up before the Lord" (I Samuel x, 
25). Hilkiah, at a still later date, is said to have "found the 
book of the law in the house of the Lord " (II Kings xxii, 
8). Isaiah, in calling attention to his own prophecies, says : 
"Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read: no one of 
these shall fail" (Isaiah xxxiv, i6), and Daniel informs us 
that he "understood by the books the number of the years" 
of the captivity (Daniel ix, 2). From these notices we may 
gather, first, that such books as were sanctioned by the 
authority of Moses and the prophets were acknowledged by 
the Jews, before the exile, as of divine authority; secondly, 
that in all probability an authentic copy was in every case 
laid up in the sanctuary and placed under the care of the 
priests, from which copies were taken and circulated among 
the people (II Chronicles xvii, 9) ; thirdly, that collections 
of these were made by pious persons for their own use, such 
as Daniel probably had in Babylon, and such as Jeremiah 
seems also to have had, judging from the frequent quota- 
tions in his prophecies from the older books. 

The collection of the books and the completion of the 
canon the tradition of the Jews ascribes chiefly to Ezra. We 
have every reason to believe this tradition to be true. Of 



CANON OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. T3 

the competency of Ezra to the task there can be no doubt, 
since he is spoken of as " a scribe of the words of the com- 
mandments of the Lord, and of His statutes to Israel," — a 
man who "had prepared his heart to seek the law of the 
Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and 
judgments" (Ezra vii, lo). Ezra was aided in his work by 
Haggai, Zechariah, Nehemiah and Malachi. Thus the result 
is authenticated by the fact that the collectors were not only 
good men, but also men inspired. That the canon has re- 
mained essentially as it was fixed by Ezra, or by his imme- 
diate successors, is rendered all but certain by the references 
of subsequent writers and historians. That we have it in 
the main as it was recognized and therefore authenticated 
by our Lord and His apostles is not open to the shadow of a 
doubt. 

6. One question only remains, and that refers to the 
books which are called apocryphal. Why do we not include 
these books in the canon? The answer to this question is 
that none of the considerations by which we are induced to 
accept the other books as canonical apply to these books. 
The Jewish church never received them as canonical. They 
are not once quoted by our Lord or by His apostles, — a fact 
the more striking as St. Paul quotes three times from heathen 
poets. It is remarkable, too, that the last inspired prophet 
closes his predictions by recommending to his countrymen 
the books of Moses, and intimates at the same time that no 
other messenger is to be expected by them till the coming 
of the second Elijah (Malachi iv, 4-6). Internal evidence, 
moreover, is against the inspiration of these books. Divine 
authority is claimed by none of their writers, and by some 



74 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

of them it is virtually disowned. They contain statements 
that are at variance with history, that are self-contradictory, 
and which are opposed to the doctrines and precepts of 
Scripture. For historical purposes, and for "instruction of 
manners," the books are of value; but they are without 
authority, and they form no part of the rule of faith. 

A miracle is an effect or event contrary to the established 
constitution or course of things, or a sensible suspension or 
controlment of or deviation from the known laws of nature, 
wrought either by the immediate act or by the assistance or 
permission of God, and accompanied with a previous notice 
or declaration that it is performed according to the purpose 
or power of God for the proof or evidence of some particular 
doctrine, or in attestation of the authority or divine mission 
of some particular person. 

MIRACLES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. 
IN EGYPT. 

MIRACLES. REFERENCE. 

Aaron's rod turned into a serpent Exodus vii, ia-12. 

The ten plagues: 

1. Water made blood " vii, 20-25. 

2. Frogs " viii, 5-14. 

3. Lice " viii, 16-18. 

4. Flies " viii, 20-24. 

5. Murrain " ix, 3-6. 

6 Boils and blains " ix, 8-11. 

7. Thunder and hail " ix, 22-26. 

8. Locusts " x, 12-19. 

9. Darkness " x, 21-23. 

10. First-born slain " xii, 29, 30. 

Parting of the Red Sea " xiv, 6, 21-31. 



MIRACLES. 75 



MIRACLES — Continued. 

IN THE WILDERNESS. 

MIRACLES. REFERENCE. 

The curing of the waters of Marah Exodus xv, 23-25. 

Feeding with manna " xvi, 14-35. 

Water from the rock, at Rephidim " xvii, 5-7. 

Death of Nadab and Abihu Leviticus x, i, 2. 

Burning of the congregation at Taberah Numbers xi, 1-3. 

Death of Korah, Dathan and Abiram, etc " xvi, 31-35. 

Budding of Aaron's rod, at Kadesh " xvii, 8. 

Water from the rock, at Meribah " xx, 7-1 1. 

The brazen serpent " xxi, 8, 9. 

Stoppage of the Jordan stream Joshua iii, 14-17. 

IN CANAAN— UNDER JOSHUA. 

Fall of Jericho Joshua vi, 6-25. 

Staying of sun and moon , " x, 12-14. 

UNDER THE KINGS. 

Death of Uzzah II Samuel vi, 7. 

Withering of Jeroboam's hand and destruction 
of the altar at Beth-el I Kings xiii, 4-6. 

BY ELIJAH. 

Staying of the cruse of oil and meal at Zarephath.I Kings xvii, 14-16. 

Raising of the widow's son at Zarephath " xvii, 17-24. 

Burning of the sacrifice on Mount Carmel " xviii, 30-38. 

Burning of the captains and their companies. . .II Kings i, 10-12. 
Dividing of Jordan " ii, 7) 8. 

BY ELISHA. 

Dividing of Jordan II Kings ii, 14. 

Curing of the waters of Jericho " ii> 21, 22. 

Destruction of mocking children at Beth-el .... " ii, 24. 

Supply of water to the allied armies in Moab. . . " iii, 16-20. 

Multiplication of the widow's oil " iv, 2-7. 

Raising the Shunammite's son " iv, 32-37. 

Healing the deadly pottage " iv, 38-41. 

Feeding one hundred men with twenty loaves . " iv, 42-44. 

Cure of Naaman's leprosy ; its transfer to Gehazi. " v, 10-14, 27* 

Making an iron axe swim " vi, 5-7. 

Smiting the Syrian army " vi, 18-20. 

Raising of dead man by touching Elisha's bones . " xiii, 21. 



76 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE, 



MIRACLES — Continued. 

RECORDED BY ISAIAH. 

MIRACLES. REFERENCE. 

Destruction of Sennacherib's army II Kings xix, 35. 

Return of sun by the dial of Ahaz " xx, 9-1 1. 

DURING CAPTIVITY. 

Deliverance of the three children from the fiery 

furnace Daniel iii, 19-27. 

Deliverance of Daniel from the lions " vi, 16-23. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Smiting of Philistines and fall of Dagon I Samuel v, 4-6. 

Smiting of Uzziah with leprosy II Chron.xxvi, 16-21. 

Deliverance of Jonah from the great fish Jonah ii, i-io. 



The word parable is sometimes used in Scripture for a 
proverb, as in Habakkuk xi, 6, Matthew xv, 14, 15, and in 
Luke iv, 23, where the word "proverb" is used by our trans- 
lators, the original being "parable." Often the word is used 
for an obscure saying difficult of being understood. The 
original word literally means a comparison, or likeness, — a 
putting of two things together so that one illustrates the 
other. Some common, well known object or pursuit is taken 
to represent something invisible or spiritual, and by such 
familiar illustration we are enabled more easily to under- 
stand the doctrine to be taught or the lesson to be incul- 
cated. Perhaps the best definition that can be given is the 
old familiar one: "A parable is an earthly story with a 
heavenly meaning." 



PARABLES. 17 



PARABLES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. 

PARABLES. BY WHOM SPOKEN. REFERENCE. 

The ewe lamb Nathan to David II Samuel xii, 1-4. 

The two brethren, and 

avengers of blood . Widow of Tekoah " xiv, i-i i. 

Escaped captive Son of the prophets to Ahab.I Kings xx, 35-40. 

Vineyard and grapes. Isaiah to Judah Isaiah v, 1-7. 

Eagles and vine Ezekiel to Israel Ezekiel xvii, 3-10. 

Lions' whelps " " " xix, 2-9. 

The boiling pot " " " xxiv, 3-5. 

PARABOLIC FABLES. 

Trees choosing a king.Jotham to Shechemites . . . .Judges ix, 7-15. 

Micaiah's vision I Kings xxii, 19-23. 

Thistle and cedar Jehoash to Amaziah II Kings xiv, 9. 

SCRIPTURE NAME. RECORDED. SUBJECT. 

Aaron and 

priests . . . .Numbers vi, 22-26. The Aaronic blessing of Israel. 

Abraham . . .Genesis xv, 2 For a son. 

Abraham ... " xvii, 17, 18. For Ishmael's acceptance. 
Abraham ... " xviii, 23. . .For mercy on Sodom. 
Abraham's 

servant ... " xxiv, 12 . . .For success in his mission. 

Agur Proverbs xxx, i . . .For moderation in his desires. 

Asa II Chron. xiv, 11 . .When going to battle with Zerah 

the Ethiopian. 

Daniel Daniel 9, 4 For the restoration of Jerusalem. 

David II Samuel vii, 18 . .For a blessing on his house. 

David Psalm li After his sin with Bath-sheba. 

David II Samuel xxiv, 17. After numbering the people. 

David I Chron. xxix,io-i9.Thanksgiving at close of life. 

Elijah I Kings xvii, 20 . . .For restoration of the widow's son. 

Elijah " xviii, 36. . .For divine attestation of his mission. 

Elijah " xix, 4 For death. 

Elisha II Kings vi, 17 . . . .For his servant's eyes to be opened. 

Elisha " vi, 18 . . . .That the army sent to take him be 

blinded. 

Ezekiel Ezekiel ix, 8 Intercession for the people. 

Ezra Ezra ix, 6 Confession of the people's sin. 



^8 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 



SPECIAL PRAYERS — Continued. 

SCRIPTURE NAME. RECORDED. SUBJECT. 

Habakkuk . .Habakkuk iii, i-i6.For revival of God's work. 

Hannah ... .1 Samuel i, ii For the gift of a son. 

Hezekiah . . •IJ^^^'^g^^^;;;;^:^^, j. Yox protection against Sennacherib. 

Hezekiah ...II Kings xx, ^, ) ,nr, , , .„ 

To„-„u ••• ^ r When dangerously ill. 

Isaiah xxxviii, 3, J & j 

Hezekiah . . .II Chron. xxx, 18. .For the unprepared who had eaten 

of passover. 

Israel Deut. xxi, 6-8 Expiation of undiscovered murder. 

Israel " xxvi, 5-10. . .Confession on presenting firstfruits. 

Israel " xxvi, 13-15 • . The prayer of the tithing year. 

Jabez I Chron. iv, 10 . . . .For the divine blessing. 

Jacob Genesis xxxii, 9 . . .For deliverance from Esau. 

Jehoshaphat.II Chron. xx, 6. . . .For protection against the armies of 

the Moabites and Ammonites. 
Jeremiah. . . .Jeremiah xiv, 7. . . .In a great famine. 
Jeremiah.... *' xv, 15-18. For comfort. 

Jonah Jonah ii, 2 For deliverance from the great fish. 

Joshua Joshua vii, 7-9 . . . .After Achan's sin. 

Levites Nehemiah ix, 5. .. .Confession of God's goodness and 

their nation's sins. 
Manoah . . . .Judges xiii, 8, 9. . . .For divine guidance in training his 

child. 

Moses Exodus xxxii, 11, [Forgiveness for the people's idola- 

Deut. ix, 26 , . . \ try. 

Moses Exodus xxxiii, 12 . .For the divine presence. 

Moses Numbers x, 35, 36 .At the setting forth and stopping of 

the ark. 

Moses " xi, 1 1-15 , For divine help to govern Israelites. 

Moses " xii, 13 .... For Miriam, for cure from leprosy. 

Moses " xiv,i3-i9.For the people, disappointed at the 

spies' report. 

Moses " xxvii, 15. For a successor. 

Moses Deut. iii, 24 To enter Canaan. 

Nehemiah . .Nehemiah i, 5 For the remnant in captivity. 

Nehemiah " iv, 4. . . .For protection against Sanballat and 

Tobiah. 

Samson Judges xvi, 28 To be avenged on his enemies. 

Solomon ... .1 Kings iii, 5-9 . . . .For wisdom to govern Israel. 

Solomon .... - viii, 23, \ Dedication of the temple. 
II Chron. VI, 14, j ^ 



ARRANGEMENT OF THE PSALMS. 



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TKR FIRST LINE OF EACH PSALM. 81 



PSALM. 

As the hart panteth 42 

Be merciful unto me, O God ; for man would swallow me up . . . 56 

Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me 57 

Behold, how good and how pleasant 133 

Behold, bless ye the Lord 134 

Bless the Lord, O my soul ; and all 103 

Bless the Lord, O my soul, O Lord 104 

Blessed are the undefiled in the way 119 

Blessed be the Lord my strength 144 

Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord 128 

Blessed is he that considereth the poor 41 

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven 32 

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly i 

Bow down thine ear, O Lord 86 

By the rivers of Babylon 137 

Deliver me from mine enemies 59 

Deliver me, O Lord, froin the evil man 140 

Do ye indeed speak righteousness 58 

Except the Lord build the house 127 

Fret not thyself because of evil doers 37 

Give ear, O my people, to my law 78 

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel 80 

Give ear to my prayer, O God 55 

Give ear to my words, O Lord 5 

Give the king thy judgments , 72 

Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty 29 

God be merciful unto us, and bless us 67 

God is our refuge and our strength 46 

God standeth in the congregation , 82 

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised 48 

Have mercy upon me, O God 51 

Hear me when I call, O God 4 

Hear my cry, O God ; attend unto my prayer 61 

Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come unto thee 102 

Hear my prayer, O Lord ; give ear to my supplications 143 

Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer 64 

Hear the right, O Lord ; attend unto my cry 17 

Hear this, all ye people ; give ear, all ye inhabitants 49 

Help, Lord, for the godly man ceaseth 12 

He that d welleth in the secret place 91 

His foundation is in the holy mountains 87 



82 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 



THE FIRST LINE OF EACH PSALM— Continued. 

PSALM. 

Hold not thy peace, O God 109 

How amiable are thy tabernacles 84 

How long w ilt thou forget me 13 

I cried unto God with my voice 77 

I cried unto the Lord with my voice 142 

If it had not been the Lord who was on our side 124 

I love the Lord because he hath heard my voice 116 

In Judah is God known 76 

In my distress I cried unto the Lord 120 

In the Lord do I put my trust 11 

In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed. . . 31 

In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust 71 

I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not 39 

It is a good thing to give thanks 92 

I waited patiently for the Lord 40 

I was glad when they said unto me 122 

I will bless the Lord at all times 34 

I will extol thee, my God, O King .... - 145 

I will extol thee, O Lord, for thou hast lifted me up 30 

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills 121 

I will love thee, O Lord, my strength . . . : 18 

I will praise thee. O Lord, with my whole heart 9 

I will praise thee with iny whole heart 138 

I will sing of mercy and judgment. loi 

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord 89 

Judge me, O God, and plead my cause 43 

Judge me, O Lord, for I have walked in thine integrity 26 

Keep thou not silence, O God 83 

Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered 68 

Lord, how are they increased that trouble me 3 

Lord, I cry unto thee ; make haste unto me , 141 

Lord, my heart is not haughty 131 

Lord, remember David, and all his afflictions 132 

Lord, thou hast been favorable unto thy land 85 

Lord, thou hast been our dwelling-place 90 

Lord, who shall abide in thy place 15 

Make a joyful noise unto God 66 

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord 100 

Make haste, O God, to deliver me 70 

Many a time have they afflicted me 129 

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me 22 

My heart is inditing a good matter 45 



THE FIRST LINE OF EACH PSALM. 83 



THE FIRST LINE OF EACH PSALM— Continued. 

PSALM. 

Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us 115 

O clap your hands, all je people 47 

O come, let us sing unto the Lord 95 

O give thanks unto the Lord ; call upon his name 105 

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; because his mercy 107 

O give thanks unto the Lord ; for he is good 118 

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy .... 136 

O God, my heart is fixed 108 

O God the heathen are come into thine inheritance 79 

O God, thou art my God ; early will I seek thee 63 

O God, thou hast cast us off 60 

O God, why hast thou cast us off 74 

O Lord God of my salvation 88 

O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth 94 

O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust 7 

O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name 8 

O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger 6 

O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath 38 

O Lord, thou hast searched me and known me 139 

O praise the Lord, all ye nations 117 

O sing unto the Lord a new song, for he hath done marvelovis things 98 
O sing unto the Lord a new song ; sing unto the Lord all the earth 96 

Out of the depths have I cried 130 

Plead my cause, O Lord 35 

Praise waiteth for thee, O God 65 

Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord . . 112 

Praise ye the Lord, for it is good to sing praises 147 

Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart iii 

Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord 106 

Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary f 50 

Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord 113 

Praise ye the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul 146 

Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord 148 

Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the name of the Lord 135 

Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song 149 

Preserve me, O God : for in thee do I put my trust 16 

Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous 33 

Save me, O God, by thy name 54 

Save me, O God ; for the waters are come in unto my soul ...... 69 

Sing aloud unto God our strength 81 

The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof 24 

The fool hath said in his heart there is no God. They are corrupt 14 



84: HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 



THE FIRST LINE OF EACH PSALM— Continued. 

PSALM. 

The fool hath said in his heart there is no God 53 

The heavens declare the glory of God 19 

The king shall joy in thy strength 21 

The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble 20 

The Lord is my light and my salvation 27 

The Lord is my shepherd 23 

The Lord reigneth ; he is clothed with majesty 93 

The Lord reigneth ; let the earth rejoice 97 

The Lord reigneth ; let the people tremble 99 

The Lord said unto my Lord no 

The mighty God, even the Lord 50 

The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart 36 

They that trust in the Lord 125 

Truly God is good to Israel 73 

Truly my soul waiteth upon God 62 

Unto thee lift I up mine eyes 123 

Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks 75 

Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul 25 

Unto thee will I cry, O Lord 28 

We have heard with our ears, O God 44 

When Israel went out of Egypt 114 

When the Lord turned again 126 

Why boastest thou thyself 52 

Why do the heathen rage 2 

Whv standest thou afar off, O Lord 10 



iiittJil^ (Suttttirb$ unit !f ntttttt$* 

Arabia Isaiah xxi ; Jeremiah xxv; Kings x. 

Aram Genesis x ; Numbers xxiii. 

Ararat Jeremiah li. 

Armenia Isaiah xxxvii. 

Arvad Ezekiel xxvii. 

Asshur Ezekiel xxvii, xxxii; Hosea xiv. 

Assyria Isaiah vii. 

Buz Jeremiah xxv. 

Chaldea Jeremiah 1, li; Ezekiel xvi, xxiii. 

Chittim Isaiah xxiii ; Jeremiah ii ; Ezekiel xxvii ; Daniel xi. 

Cush Isaiah xi. 

Dumah Isaiah xxi ; Genesis xxv. 



GENTILE COUNTRIES AND NATIONS, 85 



GENTILE COUNTRIES AND NATIONS — Continued. 

Dedan, Dedanim. . . .Isaiah xxi; Ezekiel xxvii, xxxviii. 

Edom Isaiah xi, xxxi v ; Jeremiah ix ; Ezekiel xxv. 

Egypt Psahn Ixxxi, etc. 

Elam Isaiah xi, xxi, xxii ; Jeremiah xxv, xlix. 

Ethiopia , Isaiah xviii, xx, xHii, xl v ; Ezekiel xxx , Nahum iii. 

Grecia Daniel viii, x, xi; Joel iii. 

Isles of the Gentiles . Zephaniah xi. 
Isles of Elishah .... Ezekiel xxvii. 
Kedar Isaiah xxi, xlii, Ix; Jeremiah ii; Ezekiel xxvii; 

Canticles i. 

Libya Ezekiel xxx, xxxviii. 

Lud Isaiah Ixvi ; Ezekiel xxvii. 

Ludim, Lydia Ezekiel xxx. 

Madai Genesis x. 

Magog Ezekiel xxxviii, xxxix. 

Medes Isaiah xiii ; Jeremiah xxv, li ; Daniel v, vi, ix, xi. 

Media Isaiah xxi ; Daniel viii ; II Kings xvii. 

Mesech Ezekiel xxvii, xxxii, xxxviii, xxxix. 

Mesopotamia Genesis xxiv. 

Minni Jeremiah li. 

Mizraim Genesis x. 

Nebaioth Genesis xxv; Isaiah Ix; I Chronicles i. 

Ophir Isaiah xiii. 

Padan Aram Genesis xxv. 

Palestine Joel iii. 

Pathros Isaiah xi ; Jeremiah xliv ; Ezekiel xxix, xxx. 

Persia Ezekiel xxvii, xxxviii; Daniel viii, x, xi. 

Phut Ezekiel xxvii ; Nahum iii. 

Raamah Ezekiel xxvii. 

Rahab Psalm Ixxxvii, Ixxxix ; Isaiah li. 

Seba Psalm Ixxii. 

Seir Isaiah xxi. 

Sheba Isaiah Ix; Jeremiah vi; Ezekiel xxvii, xxxviii. 

Shinar Isaiah xi ; Daniel i ; Zechariah v. 

Shushan Daniel viii ; Esther ii. 

Sinai Exodus xvi. 

Sihor Isaiah xxiii ; Jeremiah ii ; Joshua xiii ; Chron. xiii 

Susa, Susiana Esther i, ii. 

Syria Isaiah vii, xvii ; Ezekiel xvi, xxvii. 

Tema Isaiah xxi ; Jeremiah xxv ; Hosea xii ; Amos i. 

Tarshish Isaiah ii, xxiii, Ix, Ixvi; Jeremiah x; Ezekiel 

xxvii, xxxviii; Jonah i. 



86 



HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 



GENTILE COUNTRIES AND NATIONS — Continued. 

Togarmah Ezekiel xxvii, xxxviii; Genesis x; Chronicles i. 

Uz Jeremiah xxv ; Lamentations iv. 

River Chebar Ezekiel i. 

River Euphrates. . . .Jeremiah xiii, xlvi, li. 

Great Sea Hebrews xxxiv; Joshua i, ix; Ezekiel xlvii. 

River Hiddekel Genesis ii. 

Helbon Ezekiel xxvii. 

Nineveh Jonah i. 

Noph Isaiah xix; Jeremiah ii, xliv, xlvi; Ezekiel xxx. 

Zoan Isaiah xix, xxx ; Ezekiel xxx- 



\\\ !f rtmttt ||0nt]^$* 



SACRED. 
I. 


CIVIL. 

VII. 


MONTH. 

Nisan, or Abib, 


NEARLY CORRESPOKDS 
WITH OUR 

March. 


II. 

IIL 
IV. 


VIIL 

IX. 

X. 


Zif, or Ziv, 

Sivan, 

Tammuz, 


April. 

May. 

June. 


V. 
VI. 


XI. 

XII. 


Ab, 
Elul, 


July. 

August. 


VII. 
VIIL 


I. 
II. 


Ethanim, 
Bui, 


September. 
October. 


IX. 


IIL 


Chisleu, 


November. 


X. 


IV. 


Tebeth, 


December. 


XI. 
XII. 


V. 
VI. 


Sebat, 
Adar, 


January. 
February. 



As twelve lunar months made only 354 days and 6 hours, 
the Hebrew year was twelve days shorter than the Roman; 
for this difference a month was added every three years, 
called Ve-Adar, or second Adar, but this name does not 
occur in the Scriptures. 



THE HEBREW MONTHS. 87 

Ab. The fifth month of the sacred year,- and eleventh of 
the civil, corresponding to part of our July and August. It 
is not named in Scripture. 

A' BIB. "Green Ear." Exodus xii, 2. The first month 
of the sacred year. See Nisan. 

A'dar. Chaldee. "To be or become magnificent." Ezra 
vi, 15; Esther iii, 7. The name, after the Babylonish cap- 
tivity, of the twelfth month of the ecclesiastical, or holy, 
Jewish year, and the sixth of the civil. It is supposed to 
have been so called from the richness or exuberance of the 
earth in plants and flowers at that season in warm eastern 
countries; hence it has been termed "the month of blos- 
soms," or "a magnificent mantle." It lasted from the new 
moon of March to that of April, or, as the rabbins state, 
from the new moon of February to that of March. 

Several days in this month were set apart for commemo- 
ration of great events, and in it occurred the famous feast of 
Purim (Esther viii, 12, ix, 21, 22). 

Every third year Purim was twice observed, that is, in 
Adar and Ve-Adar, or second Adar. 

BuL. I Kings vi, 38, Derived from a word which denotes 
to "wear away," or "waste away." This, before, the Jewish 
captivity, was the name of the eighth month of the ecclesi- 
astical year, and the second of the civil, answering to our 
October or November; so called from the decay of the 
vegetable world at that season. It was sometimes called 
"the rainy month," on account of its being the month of 
much rain. Marchesvan is another name for this month, 
but not found in the Bible. 

Chis'leu. Nehemiah i, i; Zechariah vii, i. A Persian 



88 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

name, adopted after the captivity, for the third month of the 
civil and ninth of the sacred Jewish year. It corresponds 
to part of our November and December. Some memorable 
days were observed in it, as the fast on account of King 
Jehoiakim having profanely destroyed the roll on which 
God's threatened judgments were written, as he "sat in the 
winter-house, with a fire on the hearth burning before him." 
Irritated at the contents of the parchment, he deliberately 
"cut it with a penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on 
the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was 
on the hearth." But "the counsel of the Lord shall stand, 
and He will do all His pleasure." Another roll was prepared 
by the prophet, and the divine message repeated, with "many 
like words " added in reference to the king's personal pun- 
ishment for despising the word of the Lord. It was in this 
month, in a time of much rain, that Ezra gathered all Judah 
and Benjamin together and reformed the evil practices that 
had become common among the people, and by which the 
law of God was greatly dishonored. 

E'lul. Nehemiah vi, 15. Signifying "nought," "nothing 
worth." Name of the sixth sacred and twelfth civil month, 
answering to part of our August and September, at which 
season, in Judea and the neighboring countries, the earth is 
burnt up and desolate^ in consequence of the summer drought. 

Eth'anim. "Harvests." I Kings viii, 2. The first month 
of the civil year and seventh of the ecclesiastical. It had 
thirty days, and answers to part of our September and Octo- 
ber. King Solomon's great feast of dedication was held in 
this month, when the ark of the covenant was deposited in 
its final resting place, the temple on Mount Zion. 



7'HE HEBREW MONTHS. 89 

The modern name of this month is Tisri, so called since 
the captivity. 

Ni'sAN. Esther iii, 7 ; Nehemiah ii, i. This name is by 
some writers traced to the word Netz^ "a flower," and would 
then mean "flower month." By others the word Nisan is 
derived from Nus fugiere^ and so it signifies " the month of 
flight" — namely, of the Israelites out of Egypt. This event 
was so memorable that the very current and order of the 
year was to be changed in consequence. The Jewish year 
had before begun in September and October; it is now to 
begin in the months of March and April. God says that the 
last half of March and the first half of April shall be the 
commencement of the Jewish year. 

This was the first month of the Hebrew sacred year, and 
is called in the Pentateuch (or five books of Moses) Abib, 
the name of the seventh month in the civil year (Exodus xii, 
2, 18, xiii, 4; Deuteronomy xvi, i. The word Abib means "a 
green ear," or "an ear of corn"; or "the month of green 
corn," or "of new fruits"; hence "the month of Abib" is 
"the month of green ears." Here is special reference to the 
condition of the corn, particularly barley, in the climate of 
Egypt and Palestine at that season "in the ear" (Exodus ix, 
31). The beginning of barley harvest in Judea is about the 
middle of this month Nisan, or the beginning of our April, 
so that if we count back four months we shall come to the 
middle of Chisleu, or beginning of December, when they 
sowed barley, as the time when our Saviour conversed with 
the woman of Samaria. And in this point of view His words 
to His disciples on that occasion are very expressive : " Say 
not ye. There are yet four months, and then cometh the har- 



90 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

vest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look 
on the fields " (covered with people coming from Samaria), 
"for they are white already to harvest" — that is, ripe for 
becoming converts to me as the promised Messiah (John iv, 

35> 39-42). 

As a rule, until the Babylonish captivity the months are 
mentioned only by number, as "the first month," "the second 
month," etc. The only exception to this rule in the Penta- 
teuch is Abib, a term applied to that month which is else- 
where called the "first," in reference to the ripeness of the 
corn. It was the most memorable of all months to the He- 
brew nation, as that in which their exodus from Egyptian 
bondage was accomplished. The only other mention by 
name of months in books of this period is in I Kings vi, i, 
37, 38, viii, 2, where we find the second, seventh and eighth 
months called Zif, Ethanim and Bui. 

The month Nisan is noted in the Old Testament for the 
overflowings of Jordan, which were common at that season, 
the river being swollen by the melted snows that poured in 
torrents from Mount Lebanon (Joshua iii, 15 ; I Chronicles 
xii, 15). 

Se'bat, or She'bat. "A staff," or "sceptre." Zechariah 
i, 7. The name occurs only in this one passage, and is the 
same which is given in the Arabic and Syriac languages to 
the same month. It was the eleventh in the Jewish ecclesi- 
astical, and the fifth of their civil, year, from the new moon 
of January to that of February. 

Te' BETH, or The' BET. "Miry." Esther ii, 16. The tenth 
month in the Hebrew ecclesiastical year, and fourth of the 
civil year, beginning with the new moon of our December 



PROPHECIES RELATING TO CHRIST. 91 

and ending at the new moon of January. Esther, a captive 
Jewess, became Queen of Persia in this month. Elevated 
by Divine Providence to that exalted station, she was instru- 
mental in preserving the seed of Abraham scattered through 
the Persian dominions from a general and cruel slaughter. 

Si'vAN. "A bramble." Esther viii, 9; Nehemiah ii, i. 
A name considered to be of Persian origin, like most other 
names of the months. It was the third of the ecclesiastical 
and ninth of the civil year, answering to part of our May 
and June. This was the month in which, on Queen Esther's 
petition, the letters of Haman were reversed, and protection 
afforded to all Jewish subjects in the Persian dominions. 

T am' MUZ, or Tham'muz. The tenth month of the civil 
and fourth of the sacred year. Not named in Scripture. 

ZiF. From a Chaldee word signifying " brightness," or 
"splendor." I Kings vi, i, 37. This, the second month of 
the Hebrew sacred year and eighth of the civil, corresponds 
with part of our April and May, and was so called because 
at that season the solar light in Judea and the neighboring 
countries becomes very bright and strong. It is memorable 
as the month in which was laid the foundation of Solomon's 
magnificent temple. 

Adoration by Magi — Psalm Ixxii, 10, 15 ; Isaiah Ix, 3, 6. 

Advent — Genesis iii, 15; Deuteronomy xviii, 15; Psalm Ixxxix, 
20; Isaiah ii, 2, ix, 6, xxviii, 16, xxxii, i, xxxv, 4, xlii, 6, 
xlix, I, Iv, 4; Ezekiel xxxiv, 24; Daniel ii,44; Micah iv, i; 
Zechariah iii, 8. 



92 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

Advent, time of — Genesis xlix, lo; Numbers xxiv, 17; Daniel 

ix, 24; Haggai ii, 7; Malachi iii, i. 
Ascension and exaltation — Psalms xvi, 11, xxiv, 7, Ixviii, 18, 

ex, I, cxviii, 19. 
Betrayal by own friend — Psalms xli, 9, Iv, 13. 
Betrayal for thirty pieces — Zechariah xi, 12. 
Betrayer's death — Psalms Iv, 15, 23, cix, 17. 
Bone not to be broken — Psalm xxxiv, 20. 
Burial with the rich — Isaiah liii, 9. 
Casting lots for vesture — Psalm xxii, 18. 
Conversion of Gentiles — Isaiah xi, 10, xlii, i. 
Crucifixion — Psalm xxii, 14, 17. 
Death with malefactors — Isaiah liii, 9, 12. 
Death in prime of life — Psalms Ixxxix, 45, cii, 24. 
Death attested by convulsions of nature — Amos v, 20, viii, 9; 

Zechariah xiv, 4, 6. 
Descent into Egypt — Hosea xi, i. 
Desertion by disciples — Zechariah xiii, 7. 
Divinity — Psalms ii, 11, xlv, 7, Ixxii, 8, ex, i; Isaiah ix, 6, 

XXV, 9, xl, 10; Jeremiah xxiii, 6; Micah v, 2; Malachi 

iii, I. 
Dominion, universal and everlasting — Psalm Ixxii, 8; Isaiah 

ix, 7 ; Daniel vii, 14. 
False accusation — Psalms xxvii, 12, xxxv, 11, cix, 2. 
Forerunner of Christ — Isaiah xl, 3; Malachi iii, i, iv, 5. 
Galilee, ministry in — Isaiah ix, i, 2. 
Gall and vinegar, offer of — Psalm Ixix, 21. 
Generation, human — Genesis xii, 3, xviii, 18, xxi, 12, xxii, 18, 

xxvi, 4, xxviii, 14, xlix, 10; Psalms xviii, 50, Ixxxix, 4, 29, 36, 

cxxxii, II ; Isaiah xi, i ; Jeremiah xxiii, 5, xxxiii, 15. 



PROPHECIES RELATING TO CHRIST. 93 

insult, buffeting, spitting, scourging — Psalm xxxv, 15, 21; 

Isaiah 1, 6. 
Massacre of innocents — Jeremiah xxxi, 15. 
Miraculous power — Isaiah xxxv, 5. 

Mission — Genesis xii, 3, xlix, 10; Numbers xxiv, 19; Deuter- 
onomy xviii, 18; Psalm xxi, i; Isaiah lix, 20; Jeremiah 

xxxiii, 16. 
Mocking — Psalms xxii, 16, cix, 25. 
Nativity from virgin — Genesis iii, 15; Isaiah vii, 14; Jeremiah 

xxxi, 22. 
Nativity, place of — Numbers xxiv, 17, 19; Micah v, 2. 
Patience under suffering — Isaiah liii, 7, 9. 
Persecution — Psalms xxii, 6, xxxv, 7, 12, cix, 2; Isaiah xlix, 7, 

liii, 3. 
Piercing — Psalm xxii, 16; Zechariah xii, 10, xiii, 6. 
Prayer for enemies — Psalm cix, 4. 
Preacher — Psalm ii, 7 ; Isaiah ii, 3, Ixi, i ; Micah iv, 2. 
Priest like Melchizedek — Psalm ex, 4. 
Prophet like Moses — Deuteronomy xviii, 15. 
Purchase of potter's field — Zechariah xi, 13. 
Purification of the temple — Psalm Ixix, 9. 
Rejection by Jews and Gentiles — Psalms ii, i, xxii, 12, xli,5. 
Resurrection — Psalms xvi, 10, xxx, 3, xii, 10, 118, 17; Hosea 

vi, 2. 
Silence against accusation — Psalm xxxviii, 13; Isaiah liii, 7. 
Spiritual graces — Psalm xlv, 7 ; Isaiah xi, 2, xlii, i, Ixi, i. 
Triumphal entry into Jerusalem — Psalm viii, 2; Zechariah 

ix, 9. 
Vicarious suffering — Isaiah liii, 4-6, 12 ; Daniel ix, 26. 



94 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

%tm^ 1f${ur5 frum J J. 897 tu Jt^J. 79^ 

BEING THE TIMES BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 

Malachi, the last of the ancient sacred prophets, foretold 
the advent of Jesus Christ and the coming of his forerunner, 
John the Baptist, about four hundred years before those 
momentous events. A general idea of the state of the Jews 
during the interval, from the best historical sources, must be 
desirable and important to every reader of the Bible ; a few 
brief notices, therefore, of that period will be given here. 

Nehemiah was contemporary with Malachi, but how long 
he lived at Jerusalem after his reformation of the religious 
and political affairs of the Jews we have no means of pre- 
cisely ascertaining. After his decease Judea appears to have 
been added to the prefecture of Syria, and it remained alto- 
gether subject to the Persian governor of that province, 
under whom the high priest prescribed and enforced such 
laws of general policy as he might think proper or the state 
of things required. Even the high priest himself, in some 
instances, was appointed by the governor. 

Alexander the Great, procuring himself to be chosen 
general of the Grecian forces against the Persians, defeated 
their army in Cilicia, under Darius, their sovereign, B.C. 2iZZ' 
He then subdued all Syria and Phoenicia, and marched into 
Judea to punish the Jews for supplying his enemies with 
provisions while they refused such assistance to him. The 
high priest, Jaddus, hearing of his approach, called upon the 
people to unite with him in sacrifices and prayer, that God 
would avert the threatening calamity. Having humbled 



NAMES of ASSYRIAN, BABYLONIAN, and PERSIAN 
KINGS mentioned in the Bible, 

I. v^jm -<r< ^m ^1 ^TTTT ^ ^^n 2. i ^- © 

D.P. Ttikulti - paJ - ishar - ra D.P. Pu - lu 

Tiglath • pileser. PuL 

3. T -+ m^t^ r?^ + 4. T tSw -TT<i -^ 

D.P, D.P. Shulma - nu - asharid D.P. Shar - gi - na 

Shalmaneser. Sargon. 

5. T ^\ -H -^TT £:m^ T— -tTT '-I 

D.P. D.P. Sin - akhi - ir - ba 

Sennacherib. 

6. T -V t-^X ^ .4 7-1 -T 4 5: n 

D.P. Ashur - akh - iddin - na D.P. D.P. Ashur - bani - pal 

Esar'haddon. Asnapper (Ezra iv. i o). 

8. T -T C:*T TT -^ 9. ' --Til c^ ^^ 

D.P, D.P. Mardnk - pal - iddin D.P. Bel - shar - ustir 



Merodach-baladan. 




Belshazza 


10. ►+ -llf B "m -m ETTTTE 


iM 


::S=TT 


D.P. Nabti - ku - dur - ri - u - 


SU 


• ur 


Nebuchadnezzar II. 






n. T T? T- ®f -T <"^T 






D.P. A - me - lu - D.P. Marduk 






Evil' Merodach. 







12. T -T <tTT « ^ 

D.P, D.P. Nirgal - shar-usiu* 

Nergal-sharezer.j 

13. T ^* EtTT ^ 

D.P,. Kur - ra - ash 

Cyrus. 

14- T EM -TM ^T? 

D.P. Da - ri - ya 

Darius. 



(in 


Persian 


K 


- u 

Cp 


- r 


- u 


) 


■S-T< 

mush 


IS 


. T 

D.P 


. Ar - tak - shat 
Artaxerxes. 


-SU 



* D.P. = Determinative Prefix. 



JEWISH HIS TORT, 95 

themselves before the Lord, it was communicated to Jaddus 
in a dream that he should go and meet the conqueror, robed 
in his pontifical habits and accompanied by all the priests in 
their sacerdotal garments. Attended by a numerous body of 
the people dressed in white they thus marched in solemn 
procession to an eminence called Sapha, which commanded 
a view of the temple and of the whole city. The king ap- 
proached, but was so struck with profound awe at the extra- 
ordinary spectacle that instead of indulging in revenge he 
hastened forward and saluted the man of God with religious 
veneration. All stood amazed at his singular behavior, and 
Parmenio, a favorite of the king, asked the reason of this act 
of unexpected homage. To this Alexander is said to have 
replied that the worship was not offered to the priest, but 
to his God, in grateful acknowledgment for a vision at Dio, 
in Macedonia, in which this very priest, and in this very 
habit, appeared to him, promising to give him the empire of 
Persia. 

Having cordially embraced Jaddus, it is said that Alex- 
ander entered Jerusalem and offered up sacrifices in the 
temple. The high priest showed him the prophecies of 
Daniel, which foretold the subversion of the Persian empire 
by a Grecian king; by reading these Alexander went against 
Darius with still greater confidence of success in his expedi- 
tion, and at the request of Jaddus granted the Jews the free 
exercise of their religion, the observance of their laws, and 
exemption from the payment of tribute every seventh year, 
in which the law required that they should neither reap nor 
sow. Alexander defeated the immense army of Darius, and 
the predictions of Daniel were accomplished in his over- 



96 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

throw of the Persians (Daniel ii, 39, viii, 2, 5, 7, 20, 21, x, 20, 
xi, 2, 4). 

The conqueror greatly favored the Jews, and Egypt hav- 
ing submitted to his power, he built Alexandria, and induced 
multitudes of that people to settle in the new city, granting 
them equal privibges with the Macedonians. This mighty 
conqueror died, aged only thirty-two, B.C. 323; all his family 
were murdered and four of his generals divided the vast 
dominions of their royal master. 

Egypt fell to the lot of Ptolemy Lagus, who invaded 
Judea and led a hundred thousand of its people captives 
into his country; but treating them liberally, many were 
glad to follow their brethren, on account of the miserable 
condition into which wars had plunged their native land. 

In the year B.C. 292 Simon, surnamed the Just, high priest 
of the Jews, died. He was a man of singular wisdom and 
virtue, and the last of the men of the great synagogue, con- 
sisting of one hundred and twenty persons, appointed by 
Ezra for perfecting the restoration of the Jewish church. 
Simon the Just, it is considered, made the last revision of 
the books of the Old Testament, and completed the sacred 
canon by adding the books of Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, 
Esther and Malachi. 

The Jews in Egypt, forgetting the Hebrew language, pro- 
cured the sacred books to be translated into Greek for their 
use, and a copy of them was placed in the royal library of 
Ptolemy Philadelphus about the year B.C. 284. This transla- 
tion of the Scriptures into Greek, which is called the Septu- 
agint, became commonly used in all the churches of the 
Jews wherever they were dispersed. "This version, there- 



JEWISH HISTORT, 97 

fore, which renders the Scriptures of the Old Testament 
intelligible to a vast number of people, became one of the 
most considerable fruits of the Grecian conquests. In this 
manner did God prepare the way for the preaching of the 
gospel, which was then approaching, and facilitate the union 
of so many nations, of different languages and manners, into 
one society, and the same worship and doctrines, by the 
instrumentality of the finest, most copious and correct lan- 
guage that was ever spoken in the world, and which became 
common to all the countries that were conquered by Alex- 
ander." 

For more than a century Judea suffered grievously in the 
continual wars of Alexander's successors, especially by Anti- 
ochus, surnamed by himself Epiphanes the Illustrious, but 
by others Epimanes the Madman. He deposed Onias, the 
pious high priest of the Jews, and sold the sacred office for 
an annual tribute of three hundred and sixty talents to his 
brother Jason. Him he soon deposed, and again sold it to 
his brother Menelaus for six hundred and sixty talents. On a 
false report that Epiphanes was dead, Jason attempted to 
recover the priesthood. With a thousand soldiers he entered 
Jerusalem, and by the sword, and with various torments, he 
put to death all whom he considered his adversaries. Anti- 
ochus having heard that the Jews rejoiced in his death, and 
supposing that all the nation had revolted, took Jerusalem 
by storm, 170 B.C. He slew 40,000 persons and sold as many 
more for slaves, and plundered the temple of its splendid 
furniture to the amount of eight hundred talents of gold. 
In contempt of the God of Israel he entered the holy of 
holies, and sacrificed a sow upon the altar of burnt-offering. 



98 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

Antiochus then returned to Antioch, laden with the riches 
of his spoils, appointing Philip, a barbarous Phrygian, gov- 
ernor of Judea, Andronicus, a wicked wretch, to preside in 
Samaria, and the unprincipled Menelaus to the high priest- 
hood. 

In his fourth expedition to Egypt ambassadors from the 
Roman people arrived, and threatened him with the ven- 
geance of their victorious legions unless he withdrew his 
forces. Infuriated to madness by their authoritative inter- 
ference, he led back his army through Palestine, and dis- 
patched Apollonius, with twenty thousand of his soldiers, 
with orders to destroy Jerusalem, to put to the sword all the 
men and to make slaves of all the women and children. 
These commands were executed with savage fierceness on 
the Sabbath day, when the people were assembled for public 
worship, and none escaped but those who could reach the 
mountains by flight, or who concealed themselves in caverns 
of the earth. The city was spoiled of its riches by these 
impious invaders, and set on fire in several places; they 
broke down its walls and demolished the houses, and with 
the materials they erected a strong fortress on Mount Acra, 
which, overlooking the temple, the garrison were ready to 
sally forth and murder those who dared to approach it as 
worshipers. 

On his arrival at Antioch, Antiochus published a decree 
requiring all people in his dominions to conform to the re- 
ligion of the Greeks, and Atheneus was commissioned to 
instruct the Jews in the Grecian idolatrous ceremonies, and 
to put to death, with the most grievous torments, those who 
refused compliance with his commands. Arriving at Jerusa- 



JEWISH HIS TORT. 99 

lem he obtained the cooperation of some apostate Jews. He 
put down the daily sacrifices and suppressed all the public 
and private observances of the Jewish religion; he defiled 
the temple of God and rendered it unfit for sacred wor- 
ship; he also sought out every copy of the Scriptures and 
burnt all that could be found. He dedicated the temple of 
Jehovah to Jupiter Olympus, erected his statue on the altar 
of burnt-offering, and punished with death all that could be 
found who had acted contrary to the decree of his sovereign. 
Mattathias, a venerable priest of the Asmonean family, 
with his five sons, John, Simon, Judas, Eleazar and Jonathan, 
retired from the persecution at Jerusalem to their native city 
Modin, in the tribe of Dan. They were followed by Apelles, 
an officer of the king, who strove to compel them to observe 
the commands of Antiochus. The people being called to- 
gether, Apelles addressed Mattathias to engage his compli- 
ance with the idol worship, promising him a reward of great 
honor and riches. The aged priest not only rejected his 
offers, but slew the first apostate Jew who approached the 
idolatrous altar. He also rose upon the king's agent, and 
with the assistance of his sons put him to death, with all his 
attendants, demolished their idols and their altars, and then 
withdrew to the mountains. Being joined by a number of 
his faithful countrymen, he marched through Judea, broke 
down the heathen altars in all the cities, restored circum- 
cision, cut off the ministers of the idols and those Jews who 
had apostatized to their abominations, and reestablished the 
true worship of God, B.C. 167. Mattathias died the next 
year, appointing his son Judas, surnamed Maccabeus, to 
succeed him in the command of the army, which was soon 



100 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE, 

joined by many who were zealous for the law of God. He 
defeated several large armies of Antiochus under his bravest 
commanders, recovered Jerusalem, purified the temple, re- 
stored the appointed worship of God, and repaired the city, 
which had been almost a heap of ruins, b.c. 165. Trans- 
ported with rage at the defeat of his generals, Antiochus 
threatened to exterminate the whole nation of the Jews, and 
make Jerusalem their common burial-place. But while these 
proud words were passing over his lips the judgment of 
heaven fell upon him. He was smitten with an incurable 
disease, with grievous torments in his bowels, and an intol- 
erable ulcer, breeding vermin, by which his guilty life was 
terminated, b^c. 164. His son Eupator, under Lysias, his 
general, engaged the neighboring nations to unite in destroy- 
ing the whole race of the Jews; but Judas hearing of the 
alliance, carried the war into the countries of his enemies, 
and became a terrible scourge to the Syrians, Idumeans and 
Arabians. Judas died in battle B.C. 161, and was succeeded 
by his brother Jonathan, who, with Simon his brother, con- 
tinued to manage the affairs of his people with singular 
bravery and prudence. 

Onias, the high priest, having settled in Egypt, Jonathan 
assumed the sacerdotal office at Jerusalem, uniting it with 
the honor of civil governor, and formed an alliance with the 
Romans, B.C. 161. Jonathan being slain at Ptolemais, by the 
treachery of Tryphon, who had usurped the throne of Syria, 
Simon was chosen to succeed him, B.C. 144, and after a 
reformation at Jerusalem he rendered the Jews independent 
of foreign nations. Having made a tour through the cities 
of Judea, for the purpose of promoting their peace and 



JEWISH HISTORY, 101 

order, his son-in-law, Ptolemy, entertained him in his castle 
Dochus, at Jericho, and murdered him, with his sons Judas 
and Mattathias, B.C. 135. 

Simon was succeeded in the government and priesthood 
by his son John Hyrcanus, who extended his authority to 
several adjacent provinces; he destroyed the Samaritan 
temple on Mount Gerizim B.C. 130, after it had stood two 
hundred years, and compelled the Idumeans to embrace the 
Jewish religion. He renewed the alliance with the Romans, 
by which he secured considerable advantages for his nation, 
and died B.C. 107, leaving the sovereignty and priesthood to 
his son Aristobulus. This prince raised Judea again into a 
monarchy, and was the first after the captivity who assumed 
to himself the title of king. He was succeeded by his son 
Alexander Janneus, who compelled the Philistines to em- 
brace the profession of the Jewish faith, B.C. 97. He reigned 
twenty-seven years, and died through intemperance B.C. 79. 

The Roman alliance was found to be prejudicial to the 
interest of the Jews, who suffered much through the civil 
discords of Rome. The royal and pontifical dignity became 
a subject of violent contention, and the assistance of the 
Romans being called in by Aristobulus, against his elder 
brother, Hyrcanus, Pompey seated Hyrcanus on the throne, 
but made Judea a tributary province of the Roman empire, 
B.C. (i2>' Pompey, with some of his officers, impiously entered 
into the holy of holies, and Crassus, governor of Syria, pil- 
laged the temple of ten thousand talents of silver, B.C. 54. 

Soon after, Antipater, a crafty nobleman of Idumea, by 
favor of Julius Caesar, was made procurator of Judea, B.C. 47, 
while Hyrcanus retained the priesthood. Antipater was sue- 



102 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

ceeded by his son Herod the Great, who, being assisted by 
Antony, the Roman triumvir, through much bloodshed ob- 
tained the royal dignity, B.C. 40. His authority was con- 
firmed by Augustus Csesar, B.C. 30, and he maintained his 
dignity with distinguished ability, but also with most atro- 
cious cruelty. During his long reign he built many cities, 
and to ingratiate himself with the Jews he almost rebuilt 
their temple (Mark xiii, i ; John ii, 20). His inhuman bar- 
barity toward the children of Bethlehem, in attempting to 
murder the infant Jesus, is recorded by the evangelist Mat- 
thew. Herod died soon after, suffering the most dreadful 
torments. Under the government of his sons Judea became 
more fully recognized as a Roman province. Shiloh came, 
and the sceptre departed from Judah (Genesis xlix, lo); the 
middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile was broken 
down (Ephesians ii, 14); the dispensation of sovereign mercy 
to all nations was introduced, and after being under the gov- 
ernment of Roman procurators for some years, the whole 
Jewish state, with its ceremonial and temple, was altogether 
subverted, a.d. 70, by Titus, the son of the emperor Vespa- 
sian, and the people scattered throughout the world as living 
monuments of the truth of Christianity. 



PART III-THE NEW TESTAMENT. 



THE title Testament, which is given more especially to 
this latter part of the Holy Scriptures, is taken from a 
Greek word which properly signifies covenant. It is trans- 
lated testament in Matthew xxvi, 28, and Hebrews ix, 15-17; 
while in Hebrews viii, 7-9, and in most other places, it is 
translated covenant. The Christians in the primitive ages 
adopted the present title for this volume of the Scriptures 
because it records the free promises of God's covenant — 
mercy and grace. 

The books of the New Testament are twenty-seven in 
number, and commonly classed in three divisions, namely, 
historical, doctrinal and prophetical. Of the first class are 
the Four Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The second 
includes twenty-one Epistles, or letters, which were iaddressed 
by the apostles to several of the first churches and to indi- 
vidual Christians. The book of Revelation constitutes the 
third division. 

The term gospel is more generally applied to the writings 
of the four evangelists, containing the histories of the life 
and ministry, the death and resurrection, of Jesus Christ, but 
it is sometimes applied to the whole of the New Testament. 
The word gospel is formed from two old Saxon words, the 
first Godj signifying good, and sj^el, a speech or tidings. 



104 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. • 

The language of the Old Testament is Hebrew: that of 
the New Testament is Greek. But it is important, for crit- 
ical purposes, at least, to remember that the Greek of the 
New Testament is not classic, but Hellenistic, — that is, it 
was written by Jews who spoke Greek, but whose modes of 
thought were formed on Hebrew originals. It was likewise 
a mixture of several dialects, and there had been introduced 
into it, from a variety of sources, a considerable number of 
foreign words. Hence, to understand the original of the New 
Testament it is necessary not only to understand Greek, but 
to understand New Testament Greek. So essential is this 
knowledge that it has been said that a mere English reader, 
with his English Bible only before him, may understand the 
New Testament better than the scholar who brings to the 
investigation of a particular passage classical acquisitions 
only. 

In the character of the original languages of the Bible, 
as in everything else pertaining to the plan of redemption, 
God's hand is to be reverently acknowledged. It was not by 
chance, but through the care of Him who sees the end from 
the beginning, that, as the Old Testament was written in 
Hebrew, so the New Testament was written in Greek. For 
the purpose of God now was to give forth a revelation, not 
intended for one particular people, but adapted to men uni- 
versally. The Greek language was, at the time of our Lord's 
advent, far more widely diffused than any other. It was 
known and spoken throughout the Roman empire. That the 
Jews in particular were at this time well acquainted with 



LANGUAGE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. 105 

Greek rests on ample historical testimony. For two centu- 
ries before the Christian era the Septuagint version of the 
Old Testament had been in familiar use, and it is from this 
version that our Lord and His apostles most frequently- 
quoted, as being more familiar to their hearers or readers 
than even the Hebrew itself. Besides, the Greek was a lan- 
guage of high cultivation and great flexibility — one in which 
shades of thought could be well and accurately defined. In 
the historical records of the Old Testament, and also in its 
poetic and prophetic parts, the Hebrew language was quite 
adequate. But for such compositions as the Epistle to the 
Romans, for example, the Greek afforded a much more per- 
fect medium. 

It must not be concluded from what has been said above 
that the inspired writers, while they agree in the general cast 
of their language, exhibit no varieties of style. They all write 
in Hebraic-Greek, but each of them is marked by his own 
peculiarities. The Hebrew element is more prominent in 
the writings of Matthew and Mark than in those of Luke 
and John. Luke has occasionally, as might be expected 
from his position and culture, passages of classic purity. St. 
Paul's style is entirely his own ; full of Hebraisms, but vari- 
ous and rapid; evolving thought from thought, and quite 
unlike the sententious parallelisms of James and Jude. It 
has often been remarked that both the dialect in which the 
New Testament Scriptures are composed and the diversities 
of style which they exhibit are among the strongest proofs 
of the authenticity and genuineness of the several books. 

It does not detract from the value of the foregoing con- 
siderations if, as is supposed by some, the Gospel according 



106 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE, 

to St. Matthew, being intended in the first instance for Jews, 
was originally written in Hebrew. If this supposition be 
correct, there is no doubt that the Gospel was afterward 
produced, probably by the apostle himself, in Greek. 

The chronology of the New Testament, like that of the 
Old, is a subject of much interest, but also of considerable 
difficulty. It will be sufficient here to indicate the results 
which have been arrived at by recent and protracted inquiry. 

The first question of interest, of course, is the year of our 
Lord's birth, and that is fixed with considerable certainty at 
A.U.C.* 749. As early as the third and fourth centuries the 
twenty-fifth of December was celebrated by the two chief 
sections of the church as the festival of His birth. 

The baptism of Jesus occurred when He was "about 
thirty years of age " (Luke iii, 23), and then, or soon after, 
His public ministry commenced. On the duration of His 
ministry there is difference of opinion. The question turns 
upon the number of Passovers that the ministry covered. 
The first three evangelists seem to give events connected 
with only one passover; the last mentions three (John ii, 13, 
vi, 4, xiii, i), and probably four (John v, i). Ussher supposes 
that three only are mentioned, and hence he makes the dura- 
tion of our Lord's ministry two and a half years. Greswell 
and Robinson suppose that four are mentioned, and they 
thus make His ministry, reckoning from the first passover, 

* Anno Urbis Conditee., or Ab Urbe Condita. In the year from the building of 
the city, i.e. Rome. 



CHRONOLOGT OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. lOT 

extend over three or three and a half years. The date of 
His death was probably a.u.c. 783. In any case, the day 
which we call Good Friday may be regarded without much 
doubt as the proper anniversary of His death. Easter Sun- 
day is, consequently, the anniversary of His resurrection. 

Accepting the view to be correct that our Lord's ministry 
extended over the longer of the periods above named, it may 
be useful to give, in a few sentences, the successive periods 
into which the events in the Saviour's history have been 
divided. 

1. Events connected with the birth and childhood of our 
Lord, including the appearances of the angel to Zacharias 
and Mary, the birth of John the Baptist, the birth of Jesus 
and His circumcision, the flight into Egypt and the return, 
the visit of Jesus, when twelve years of age, to the feast of 
the passover at Jerusalem. This period is comprised within 
about thirteen and a half years. 

2. The succeeding period, respecting which the Gospels 
give us no information, ending with the time when the Lord 
"began to be about thirty years of age." 

3. The announcement and commencement of our Lord's 
public ministry, including the ministry of John the Baptist, 
the baptism of Christ, the temptation, the testimony of John 
to Jesus after the temptation was over, the marriage at Cana 
of Galilee. This period occupies about one year. 

4. Our Lord's first passover, and the subsequent events 
until the second, including the early Judean ministry, the 
discourse with the Samaritan woman and the earlier minis- 
try in Galilee. One year. 

5. Our Lord's second passover, and the events subsequent 



108 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

until the third, a period spent chiefly in the neighborhood of 
Capernaum. One year. 

6. From the third passover during our Lord's ministry 
until His final departure from Galilee at the feast of taber- 
nacles. Six months. 

7. The feast of tabernacles, and the subsequent events 
until our Lord's arrival at Bethany, six days before the 
fourth passover. Six months, less one week. 

8. Our Lord's public entry into Jerusalem, and the sub- 
sequent occurrences before the fourth passover. Five days. 

9. The fourth passover, our Lord's Passion, and the 
accompanying events, including the crucifixion, until the 
end of the Jewish Sabbath. Two days. 

10. Our Lord's resurrection, His subsequent appearances, 
and His ascension. Forty days. 

Thus the chronology of the Gospels is concerned with a 
period of from thirty-four to thirty-five years. 

The chronology of the Acts and the Epistles is second 
in interest only to that of the Gospels. The whole period 
included in the Acts is probably about thirty-three years. 
The martyrdom of Stephen occurred about six years after 
the ascension of our Lord. We have seen already that the 
conversion of St. Paul is to be fixed at about one year after 
the death of Stephen. Between St. Paul's conversion and 
his first visit to Jerusalem there occurred a period of three 
years (Galatians i, 18), In the fourteenth year — after the 
same event, probably — he visited Jerusalem a third time 
(Acts XV, 2 ; Galatians ii, i), a second visit having been paid 
just before the death of Herod Agrippa (Acts xi, 30, xii, 23). 
After the third visit we read of two other visits (Acts xviii 



BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. 109 

i8, 21, XX, i6). In the interval he had spent nearly three 
years in Ephesus (Acts xx, 31), a year and a half at Corinth 
(Acts xviii, 11), three months in Greece (Acts xx, 3), and 
twice he had gone through a large part of Asia Minor, 
Macedonia and Greece. After the fifth visit to Jerusalem 
he was imprisoned two years. Felix was then recalled, and 
St. Paul was sent to Rome, where he lived and preached two 
whole years in his own hired house, "no man forbidding 
him" (Acts xxviii, 30, 31). These facts, with others of a 
minute and comparatively trivial kind, fix the dates of the 
whole narrative. Herod Agrippa died, according to Jose- 
phus, A.D. 44. Felix lost his procuratorship, according to 
the same authority, a.d. 60. Paul, moreover, must have 
reached Rome about a.d. 6ij for in a.d, 64 the persecution 
of the Christians under Nero began, and after that time no 
such security as that which Luke speaks of could have been 
possible. The martyrdom of St. Paul is usually fixed at a.d. 
(i6 or 67, and that of St. Peter is stated by tradition to have 
occurred a short time before. 

BOOK. AUTHOR. ^"^''^ FOR WHOM DATE, 

WRITTEN. WRITTEN. A. D. 

Matthew, in Hebrew (.?). Matthew .Judea Hebrew Christians.38(.'') 



I Thessalonians Paul .... Corinth . . . Gent 

I I Thessalonians ..... Paul ... Corinth . . . Gent 
Galatians Paul .... Corinth , . . Gent 

I Corinthians Paul .... Ephesus . . Gent 

II Corinthians Paul .Macedonia. Gent 

Romans Paul . . . Corinth . . . Gent 

Matthew, in Greek . . . . Matthew. Judea Hebrew Christians.6o 

James James . . .Judea Hebrew Christians.6o 

Mark Mark ...Rome ... .Gentile Christians. 61 

Ephesians Paul , . . .Rome . . . .Gentile Christians. 61 



le Christians. 52 
le Christians. 52 
le Christians. 53 
le Christians. 57 
le Christians. 58 
le Christians. 58 



110 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE, 

CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER OF THE BOOKS OF THE 

NEW TESTAMENT— Continued. 

BOOK. AUTHOR. ^"^^^ ^""^ '^"^'^ °^'^^' 

WRITTEN. WRITTEN. A. D. 

Colossians Paul ....Rome ... .Gentile Christians. 62. 

Philemon Paul ....Rome ....Philemon 62. 

Philippians Paul ....Rome ... .Gentile Christians. 63. 

Hebrews Paul (.?).. Italy Hebrew Christians.63. 

Luke Luke . . .Greece (.''). Theophilus 63. 

Acts Luke . . .Greece (.?).Theophilus 64. 

I Peter Peter. . . .Babylon . .General 64. 

II Peter Peter. . . .Babylon . .General 65. 

I Timothy Paul .... Macedonia.Timothy 64. 

Titus Paul Macedonia. Titus 64. 

II Timothy Paul Rome Timothy 65. 

Jude Jude .... Unknown . General 65. 

I John John .... Ephesus . . General ; 68. 

II John John .... Ephesus . .The Elect Lady. . .69. 

111 John John .... Ephesus . . Gaius 69. 

Revelation John .... Patmos ( }) . Seven Churches . . . 97. 

John John . . ; . Ephesus . . General 98. 

SCRIPTURE NAME. RECORDED. SUBJECT. 

Apostles Acts i, 24 On choosing an apostle. 

Early Church Acts iv, 24 For support under persecution. 

Jesus Matt, xi, 25, 26. Thanksgiving. 

Jesus John xi, 41, 42 . Thanksgiving for accepted prayer. 

Jesus John xii, 27 . . . Imploring his Father's aid. 

Jesus John xvii For himself, his apostles, and all 

believers: for unity. 

Jesus Matt, xxvi, 39, 

Luke xxii,42. Under suffering in Gethsemane.^ 

Jesus Luke xxiii, 34 . For his m urderers. [tion. 

Jesus Matt, xxvii, 46 . Under suspension of divine consola- 

Lord's prayer Matt, vi, 9, [ The model of supplication for relief 

Luke xi, 2, \ of human needs. 

Penitent thief, . . .Luke xxiii, 42. To be remembered by Jesus. 

Pharisee's prayer. Luke xviii, 11 .Thanksgiving for his righteousness. 

Publican's prayer. Luke xviii, 13. For divine mercy. 

Stephen Acts vii, 59, 60. Commendation of his soul; forgive- 
ness of his murderers. 



THE MIRACLES OF CHRIST. Ill 



ARRANGED IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. 

MIRACLE. PLACE. REFERENCE, 

Turns water into wine Cana John ii, i-ii. 

Cures the nobleman's son of Caper- 
naum " " iv, 46-64. 

Causes the miraculous draught of 

fishes Sea of Galilee. Luke v, i-ii. 

Cures a demoniac Capernaum. . .Mark i, 22-28. 

Heals Peter's wife's mother of a fever " ..." i, 30, 31. 

Heals a leper " ... " i, 40-45. 

Heals the centurion's servant " .. .Matt, viii, 5-13. 

Raises the widow's son Nain Luke vii, 11-17. 

Calms the tempest Sea of Galilee. Matt, viii, 23-27. 

Cures the demoniacs of Gadara . . . .Gadara " viii, 28-34. 

Cures a man of the palsy Capernaum ... " ix, 1-8. 

Restores to life the daughter of Jairus " ..." ix,i8-26. 

Cures a woman of a bloody flux. ... " . . .Luke viii, 43-48. 

Restores to sight two blind men. ... " . . .Matt, ix, 27-31. 

Heals one possessed of a dumb spirit " ..." ix, 32, 33. 

Cures an infirm man at Bethesda . .Jerusalem . . . .John v, 1-9. 

Cures a man with a withered hand .Judea Matt, xii, 10-13. 

Cures a demoniac Capernaum ... " xii, 22, 23. 

Feeds miraculously five thousand . .Decapolis .... " xiv, xv, 21. 

Heals woman of Canaan's daughter. Near Tyre. ... " xv, 22-28. 

Heals a man who was deaf and dumb. Decapolis . . . .Mark vii, 31-37. 

Feeds miraculously four thousand . . " . . .Matt, xv, 32-39. 

Gives sight to a blind man Bethsaida . . . .Mark xiii, 22-26. 

Cures a boy possessed of a devil. . . .Tabor Matt, xvii, 14-21. 

Restores to sight a man born blind .Jerusalem . . . .John ix. 

Heals a woman under an infirmity 
eighteen years Galilee Luke xiii, 11-17. 

Cures a dropsy " " xiv, 1-6. 

Cleanses ten lepers Samaria " xvii, 1 1-19. 

Raises Lazarus from the dead Bethany John xi. 

Restores to sight two blind men, . . .Jericho Matt, xx, 30-34. 

Blasts the fig-tree Olivet " xxi, 18-22. 

Heals the ear of Malchus Gethsemane. .Luke xxii, 50, 51. 

Causes the miraculous draught of 
fishes Sea of Galilee. John xxi, 1-14. 



112 



HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE, 



ARRANGED IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. 



PARABLE. PLACE. 

Sower , Capernaum 

Tares " 

Seed springing up imperfectly .... " 

Grain of mustard seed " 

Leaven » " 

Found treasure " 

Precious pearl " 

Net , « 

Two debtors " 

Unmerciful servant " 

Samaritan Near Jericho 

Rich fool Galilee 

Servants who waited for their Lord " 

Barren fig-tree " 

Lost sheep » " 

Lost piece of money " 

Prodigal son " 

Dishonest steward " 

Rich man and Lazarus " 

Unjust judge Paraea 

Pharisee and publican " 

Laborers in the vineyard " 

Pounds Jericho 

Two sons Jerusalem 

Vineyard " 

Marriage feast " 

Virgins " 

Talents " 

Sheep and the goats " 



REFERENCE. 

Matt xiii, 1-23. 

"xiii, 24-30, 36-43, 
Mark iv, 26-29. 
Matt, xii, 31-32. 

" xiii, 33. 

" xiii, 44. 

" xiii, 45, 46. 

" xiii, 47-50. 
Luke vii, 36-50. 
Matt, xviii, 23-35. 
Luke X, 25-37. 

" xii, 16-21. 

" xii, 35-48. 

" xiii, 6-9. 

" XV, 3-7. 

" XV, 8-10. 

" XV, 11-32. 

" xvi, 1-12. 

" xvi, 19-31. 

" xviii, 1-8. 

" xviii, 9-14. 
Matt. XX, 1-16. 
Luke xix, 12-27. 
Matt, xxi, 28-32. 

" xxi, 33-46. 

" xxii, 1-14. 

" XXV, 1-13. 

" XXV, 14-30. 

" XXV, 31-46. 



THE DISCOURSES OF JESUS, 



113 



ARRANGED IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. 



DISCOURSE. PLACE. 

Conversation with Nicodemus Jerusalem . . . 

Conversation with woman of Samaria.Sychar 

Discourse in synagogue of Nazareth. Nazareth . . . . 

Sermon on the mount " . . . . 

Instruction to the apostles Galilee 

Denunciations against Chorazin, etc. " 

Discourse on healing of infirm man .Jerusalem . . . 

Discourse concerning disciples pluck- 
ing corn on the Sabbath Judea 

Reputation of his working miracles 

by the agency of Beelzebub Capernaum. . 

Discourse on the bread of life " 

Discourse about internal purity " 

Discourse against giving or taking 
offense, and concerning forgiveness 
of injuries " 

Discourse at the feast of tabernacles. Jerusalem . . . 

Discourse on woman taken in adultery " ... 

Discourse concerning the sheep .... '* . , . 

Denunciations against the Scribes 
and Pharisees Parsea 

Discourse concerning humility and 

prudence Galilee 

Directions how to attain heaven . . . .Paraea 

Discourse concerning his sufferings .Jerusalem ... 

Denunciation against the Pharisees . " . . . 

Prediction of the destruction of Jeru- 
salem " . . . 

The consolatory discourse " . . . 

Discourse as he went to Gethsemane " . . . 

Discourse to the disciples before his 
ascension ..,,...• »»,, *' • • • 



REFERENCE. 

.John iii, 1-21. 
. " iv, 1-42. 
.Luke iv, 16-31. 
.Matt. V, vii. 
. " X. 
. " xi, 20-24. 
.John v. 

• Matt, xii, 1-8. 

. " xii, 22-37. 
.John vii. 
.Matt. XV, 1-20. 



" xviii. 
.John vii. 
. " viii, i, ii, 

" x. 

Luke xi, 29-36. 

" xiv, 7-14. 
Matt, xix, 16-30. 
" XX, 17-19. 
" xxiii. 

" xxiv. 
.John XV, xvii. 
.Matt, xxvi, 31-36. 

** xxviii,i6-23. 



114 



HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 



The following names or titles of our Lord and Saviour 
Jesus Christ are to be found in the Scriptures of the Old 
and New Testament : 



Adam, I Cor. xv, 45. 

Advocate, I John ii, i. 

Almighty, Rev. i, 8. 

Alpha and Omega, Rev. i, 8. 

Amen, Rev. iii, 14. 

Angel of the Lord, Gen. x vi, 7-1 1 . 

Anointed, Ps. ii, 2. 

Apostle, Heb. iii, i. 

Arm of the Lord, Isa. Ii, 9, 10. 

Author of Eternal Salvation, 

Heb. V, 9. 
Author of Faith, Heb. xii, 2. 
Beginning and End, Rev. xxii, 13. 
Beginning of Creation of God, 

Rev. iii, 14. 
Beloved, Matt, xii, 18. 
Beloved Son, Matt, iii, 17 ; Luke 

iii, 22. 
Blessed and Only Potentate, I 

Tim. vi, 15. • 
Branch, Zech. vi, 12. 
Branch of Righteousness, Jer. 

xxxiii, 15. 
Bread, John vi, 41. 
Bread from Heaven, John vi, 51. 
Bread of God, John vi, 33. 
Bread of Life, John vi, 35. 
Bright and Morning Star, Rev. 

xxii, 16. 
Brightness of Father's Glory, 

Heb. i, 3. 
Captain of Salvation, Heb. ii, 10. 
Carpenter, Mark vi, 3. 
Carpenter's Son, Matt, xiii, 55. 
Chief Corner Stone, I Peter ii, 6. 
Chiefest among Ten Thousand, 

Song of Solomon v, 10. 



Child, Isa. ix, 6. 

Child Jesus, Luke ii, 27, 43. 

Chosen of God, I Peter ii, 4. 

Christ, John vi, 69. 

Christ, a King, Luke xxiii, 2. 

Christ Jesus, Heb. iii, i. 

Christ Jesus our Lord, I Tim. i, 12. 

Christ of God, Luke ix, 20. 

Christ, the Chosen of *God, Luke 

xxiii, 35. 
Christ the Lord, Luke ii, 11. 
Christ, the Son of God, Acts ix, 

20. 
Christ, Son of the Blessed, Mark 

xiv, 61. 
Commander, Isa. Iv, 4. 
Consolation of Israel, Luke ii, 25. 
Corner Stone, Isa. xxviii, 16. 
Counsellor, Isa. ix, 6. 
Covenant, Isa. xlii, 6. 
David, their King, Jer. xxx, 9. 
Day-Spring, Luke i, 78. 
Deliverer, Rom. xi, 26. 
Desire of All Nations, Hag. ii, d 
Door, John x, 9. 
Door of the Sheep, John x, 7. 
Elect, Isa. xlii, i. 
Emmanuel, Matt, i, 23. 
Ensign, Isa. xi, 10. 
Everlasting Father, Isa. ix, 6. 
Faithful and True, Rev. xix, 11. 
Faithful Witness, Rev. i, 5. 
Faithful and True Witness, Rev. 

iii, 14. 
Finisher of Faith, Heb. xii, 2. 
First and Last, Rev. xxii, 13, i,i7. 
First Begotten, Heb. i, 6. 



NAMES AND TITLES OF CHRIST. 



115 



NAMES AND TITLES OF CHRIST— Continued. 



First Begotten of the dead, Rev. 

First-born among brethren, Rom. 

viii, 29. 
First-born from the dead, Col. i,i8. 
First-born of every creature, Col. 

i, 15- 
First Fruits, I Cor. xv, 20. 
Forerunner, Heb. vi, 20. 
Foundation, I Cor. iii, 11. 
Fountain Opened, Zech. xiii, i. 
Friend of Sinners, Matt, xi, 19. 
Gift of God, John iv, 10. 
Glory of Israel, Luke ii, 32. 
God blessed forever, Rom. ix, 5. 
God manifest in the flesh, I Tim. 

iii, 16. 
God of Israel, the Saviour, Isa. 

xlv, 15. 
God of the whole earth, Isa. liv, 5. 
God our Saviour, I Tim. ii, 3. 
God's dear Son, Col. i, 13. 
God with us. Matt, i, 23. 
Good Master, Matt, xix, 16. 
Governor, Matt, ii, 6. 
Great Shepherd of the Sheep, 

Heb. xiii, 20. 
Head of every man, I Cor. xi, 3. 
Head of the Church, Col. i, 18. 
Head of the Corner, Matt, xxi, 42. 
Heir of all thmgs, Heb. i, i, 2. 
High Priest, Heb. iii, i. 
High Priest of good things to 

come, Heb. ix, 11. 
Holy Child Jesus, Acts iv, 30. 
Holy One, Ps. xvi, 10. 
Holy One of God, Mark i, 24. 
Holy One of Israel, Isa. xli, 14, 

liv, 5. 
Holy Thing, Luke i, 35. 
Hope, Our, I Tim. i, i. 
Horn of Salvation, Luke i, 69. 



I AM. John viii, 58. 

Image, express, of God's person, 

Heb. i, 3. 
Image of God, II Cor. iv, 4. 
Immanuel, Isa. vii, 14. 
Jesus, Matt, i, 21. 
Jesus Christ, Matt, i, i. 
Jesus Christ, our Saviour,Tit.iii,6. 
Jesus of Nazareth, Mark i, 24. 
Jesus of Nazareth, the King of 

the Jews, John xix, 19. 
Jesus, the King of the Jews, Matt. 

xxvii, 37. 
Jesus, the Son of God, Heb. iv, 14. 
Jesus, the Son of Joseph, John vi, 

42. 
Judge, Acts X, 42. 
Just, Acts iii, 14. 
Just Man, Matt, xxvii, 19. 
Just One, Acts vii, 52. 
Just Person, Matt, xxvii, 24. 
King, Luke xix, 38. 
King of Glory, Ps. xxiv, 7-10. 
King of Israel, John i, 49. 
King of Kings, I Tim. vi, 15. 
King of the Jews, Matt, ii, 2. 
King of Zion, Matt, xxi, 5. 
King over all the earth, Zech. 

xiv, 9, 
Lamb, Rev. v, 6. 
Lamb of God, John i, 29, 36. 
Lamb that was slain. Rev. v, 12. 
Leader, Isa. Iv, 4. 
Life, John xiv, 6. 
Life, Our, Col. iii, 4. 
Light, Everlasting, Isa. Ix, 20. 
Light of the world, John viii, 12. 
Light to the Gentiles, Isa. xiii, 6. 
Light, True, John i, 9. 
Lion of the tribe of Judah, Rev. 

V, 5- 
Living Bread, John vi, 51. 



116 



HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE, 



NAMES AND TITLES OF CHRIST— Continued. 



Living Stone, I Peter ii, 4. 

Lord, Matt, xxii, 43. 

Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 

II Peter i, 11. 
Lord Christ, Col. iii, 24. 
Lord from Heaven, T Cor. xv, 47. 
Lord Jesus, Acts vii, 59. 
Lord Jesus Christ, II Thes. iii, 6. 
Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour, 

Tit. i, 4. 
Lord of All, Acts x, 36. 
Lord of Glory, James ii, i. 
Lord of Hosts, Isa. xliv, 6. 
Lord of Lords, Rev. xix, 16. 
Lord, Mighty in Battle, Ps.xxiv, 8. 
Lord of the de-ad and living, Rom. 

xiv, 9. 
Lord of the Sabbath, Mark ii, 28. 
Lord over All, Rom. x, 12. 
Lord's Christ, Luke ii, 26. 
Lord, Strong and Mighty, Ps. 

xxiv, 8. 
Lord, The, our Righteousness, 

Jer. xxiii, 6. 
Lord, your Holy One, Isa. xliii, 15. 
Lord, your Redeemer, Isa. xliii, 14. 
Man, Mark xv, 39. 
Man Christ Jesus, I Tim. ii, 5. 
Man of Sorrows, Isa. liii, 3. 
Master, Matt, xxiii, 10. 
Mediator, I Tim. ii, 5. 
Mediator of the New Covenant, 

Heb. xii, 24. 
Messenger of the Covenant, Mai. 

iii, I. 
Messiah, the Prince, Dan. ix, 25. 
Messias, John i, 41. 
Mighty God, Isa. ix, 6. 
Mighty One of Israel, Isa. xxx,29. 
Mighty One of Jacob, Isa. xlix, 26. 
Mighty to save, Isa. Ixiii, i. 
Morning Star, Rev. xxii, 16. 



Most Holy, Dan. ix, 24. 
Most Mighty, Ps. xlv, 3. 
Nazarene, Matt, ii, 23. 
Offspring of David, Rev. xxii, 16. 
Only-Begotten of the Father, 

John i, 14. 
Only-Begotten Son, John i, 18. 
Passover, I Cor. v, 7. 
Plant of Renown, Ezek. xxxiv, 29. 
Potentate, Only, I Tim. vi, 15. 
Power of God, I Cor. i, 24. 
Precious Corner Stone, Isa.xxviii, 

16. 
Priest, Heb. vii, 17. 
Prince, Acts v, 31. 
Prince of Life, Acts iii, 15. 
Prince of Peace, Isa. ix, 6. 
Prince of the Kings of the Earth, 

Rev. i, 5. 
Prophet, John vi, 14. 
Propitiation, I John ii, 2. 
Rabbi, John i, 49. 
Rabboni, John xx, 16. 
Redeemer, Job xix, 25. 
Redemption, I Cor. i, 30. 
Resurrection, John xi, 25. 
Righteous Branch, Jer. xxiii, 5. 
Righteous Judge, II Tim. iv, 8. 
Righteous Servant, Isa. liii, 11. 
Righteousness, I Cor. i, 30. 
Rock, I Cor. X, 4. 
Rock of Offense, I Peter ii, 8. 
Root of David, Rev. v, 5. 
Root of Jesse, Rom. xv, 12. 
Rose of Sharon, S. of Sol. ii, i. 
Ruler in Israel, Micah v. 2. 
Sanctification, I Cor. i, 30. 
Saviour, Luke ii, 11. 
Saviour of the body, Eph. v, 23. 
Saviour of the world, I John iv, 14. 
Sceptre, Num. xxiv, 17. 
Second Man, I Cor. xv, 47. 



NAMES AND TITLES OF CHRIST. 



iir 



NAMES AND TITLES OF CHRIST— Continued. 



Seed of David, II Tim. ii, 8. 
Seed of the woman, Gen. iii, 15. 
Servant, Matt, xii, 18. 
Servant of Rulers, Isa. xlix, 7. 
Shepherd and Bishop of Souls, 

I Peter ii, 25. 
Shepherd, Chief, I Peter v, 4. 
Shepherd, Good, John x, 11. 
Shepherd, Great, Heb. xiii, 20. 
Shepherd of Israel, Ps. Ixxx, i. 
Shiloh, Gen. xlix, 10. 
Son Jesus Christ, I John iii, 23. 
Son of David, Matt, xxi, 9. 
Son of God, Rev. ii, 18. 
Son of Joseph, Luke iii, 23. 
Son of Man, John iii, 13. 
Son of Mary, Mark vi, 3. 
Son of the Blessed, Mark xiv, 

61. 
Son of the Father, II John i, 3. 
Son of the Highest, Luke i, 32. 
Son of the Living God, Matt, xvi, 

16. 
Son of the Most High God, Mark 

V, 7- 
Stone, Matt, xxi, 42. 
Stone of Stumbling, I Peter ii, 8. 
Sun of Righteousness, Mai. iv, 2. 



Sure Foundation, Isa. xxviii, 16. 
Surety of a better testament, Heb. 

vii, 22. 
Teacher, John iii, 2. 
The Beloved, Eph. i, 6. 
The Man, John xix, 5. 
The Only Wise God, our Saviour, 

Jude 25. 
Tried Stone, Isa. xxviii, 16. 
True, Rev, xix, 11. 
True God, I John v, 20. 
True Vine, John xv, i. 
Truth, John xiv, 6. 
Unspeakable Gift, II Cor. ix, 15. 
Very Christ, Acts ix, 22. 
Vine, John xv, 5, 
Way, John xiv, 6. 
Which is, which was, which is to 

come. Rev. i, 4. 
Wisdom of God, I Cor. i, 24. 
Wisdom, Our, I Cor. i, 30. 
Witness to the People, John xviii, 

37- 
Wonderful, Isa. ix, 6. 
Word, John i, i. 
Word of God, Rev. xix, 13. 
Word of Life, I John i, i. 
Young Child, Matt, ii, 8, 13. 



!uppu$att i^rxittulug^ u^ ^\ J^^'^ ^^^ ^ftt$tlii$> 



A.U.C. A. D. 

(Tiberius.) 30 
783-788 30-35 

35-40 
(Caligula.) 40-43 

43-46 
(Claudius.) 46-54 



Introduction to the Acts of the Apostles (i, 1-14). 

Events till the appointment of deacons (i, 15, vi, 6). 

Events till the conversion of Cornelius (vi, 7, x) 

Events till the establishment of the church at 
Antioch (xi, 1-26). 

Events till the end of Paul's first missionary jour- 
ney (xi, 27, xiv, 28). 

Events till the end of Paul's second missionary 
journey (xv, 11, xviii, 22). 



118 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

SUPPOSED CHRONOLOGY OF THE ACTS AND 
EPISTLES — Continued. 

Epistles: I Thes. (52); II Thes. (53). 

A.U. C. A. D. 

(Nero.) 55-60 Events till the end of Paul's third missionary 
journey (xviii, 23, xxvi). 

Epistles: I Cor. (57); II Cor., Gal. (57); Rom. (58). 

814-816 60-63 Paul's imprisonment at Csesarea and voyage to 

Rome (xxvii, xxviii). 
(Nero.) 61 James' General Epistle to Jewish Christians. , 

62 Paul writes his Epistle to Ephesians. 
Timothy and Epaphroditus arrive at Rome, bring- 
ing tidings from Colosse (Col. i, 1-7). 

Paul's Epistle to Colossians. 

Paul's Epistle to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus, 
his runaway slave. 

63 Paul's Epistle to the Philippians. 

63 Paul's Epistle to the Hebrews, explaining how the 
Old Dispensation is developed into the New. 
Timothy liberated (Heb. xiii). 
63 Paul visits Crete; leaves Titus in charge of church 
there. 

63 Peter writes his first Epistle to Jews and Gentiles 

scattered abroad and persecuted. 

64 Paul goes to Macedonia. 

64 Paul writes first Epistle to Timothy, at Ephesus 

(I Tim. i, vi). 
Paul writes Epistle to Titus. 
Paul winters at Nicopolis, Dalmatia, Troas. 
^5(0 J^^^ writes his Epistle. 

65 Peter writes his second Epistle to Jewish and Gen- 

tile Christians scattered through Pontus. 
65 Paul's second imprisonment in Rome ; tried before 
Nero. 
820 66 Paul's second Epistle to Timothy, summoning him 

to Rome. 
Paul's martyrdom. Peter's martyrdom at Rome. 
825 71 Destruction of Jerusalem by Titus. 

John writes his three Epistles. 
75(.?) Jude writes his Epistle. 
850 96 John writes the Book of Revelation. 

97 John writes his Gospel. 



CRUCIFIXION. 



119 



Sjixmh% \%ix^x^t\ in ^\ j;tl$ u^ i^^ j:pu$lte* 



Peter heals a lame man , . . .Jerusalem. . . . 

Ananias and Saphira struck dead. " . . . o 

Apostles perform many wonders . " " 

Peter and John communicate the 

Holy Ghost Samaria " 

Peter "heals Eneas of a palsy Lydda " 

Peter raises Tabitha, or Dorcas, to 

life Joppa " 

Peter delivered out of prison by an 

angel Jerusalem " 

God smites Herod so that he dies. " " 

Elymas, the sorcerer, smitten with 

blindness Paphos " 

Paul converted Road to Damascus " 

Paul heals a cripple Lystra " 

Paul casts out a spirit of divination.Phillippi " 

Paul and Silas' prison doors opened 

by an earthquake " " 

Paul communicates the Holy 

Ghost Corinth " 

Paul heals multitudes " " 

Paul restores Eutychus to life Troas " 

Paul shakes off the viper Melita *' 

Paul heals the father of Publius, 

and others " " 



REFERENCE. 

Acts iii, i-ii. 

" V, I-IO. 



v, 1 2-16. 
viii, 14-17. 

ix, 33. 34- 

ix, 37-41. 

xn, 7-17. 

xiii, 7-1 1, 
ix, 1-9. 
xiv, 8-10. 
xvi, 17-18. 

xvi, 25, 27. 

xix, 1-7. 
xix, 11-12. 
XX, 9-12. 
xxviii, 3-7. 

xxviii, 7-9. 



SrntiSritrm 



Crucifixion was a punishment which the ancients inflicted 
only upon the most notorious criminals and malefactors, and 
it included every idea and circumstance of lingering torture, 
odium, disgrace and public scandal; hence St. Paul takes 
occasion to magnify the exceeding great love of our Re- 
deemer, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for uSy 



120 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

and for the joy that was set before Him endured the crosSy 
despising the shame and ignominy attached to it (Romans v, 8 ; 
Hebrews xii, 2). In this punishment the cross was made of 
two beams, either crossing at the top, at right angles, or in 
the middle of their length, like an X. Our Lord appears to 
have been crucified on a cross of the former kind. The 
horror of crucifixion will be evident when it is considered 
that the person was permitted to hang (the whole weight of 
his body being borne up by his nailed hands and feet and 
by the projecting piece in the middle of the cross) until he 
perished through agony and want of food. There are in- 
stances of crucified persons living in this exquisite torture 
for several days. The rites of sepulture were denied them. 
Their dead bodies were generally left on the crosses on 
which they were first suspended, and became a prey to 
every ravenous beast and carnivorous bird. This mode of 
executing criminals obtained among various ancient nations, 
especially among the Romans, by whom it was inflicted chief- 
ly on vile, worthless and incorrigible slaves. In reference to 
this, the apostle, describing the condescension of Jesus and 
His submission to this most opprobrious death, represents 
Him as taking upon Himself the form of a servant (Philip- 
pians ii, 7, 8), and becoming obedient to death, even the 
death of the cross. All the circumstances attending the 
crucifixion of Jesus Christ, as related in the Four Gospels, 
agree with the accounts given of this punishment by Greek 
and Roman authors. 



DEATH SENTENCE OF CHRIST. 121 

Sentence pronounced by Pontius Pilate, intendant of the 
lower province of Galilee, that Jesus of Nazareth shall 
suffer death by the cross: 

In the seventeenth year of the reign of the Emperor 
Tiberius, and on the twenty-fourth day of the month of 
March, in the most holy city of Jerusalem, during the 
pontificate of Annas and Caiaphas. 

Pontius Pilate, then intendant of the province of Lower 
Galilee, sitting to judgment in the presidential seat of the 
praetor, sentenced Jesus of Nazareth to death on a cross, 
between robbers, as the numerous and notorious testimonies 
of the people prove : 

1. Jesus is a misleader. 

2. He has excited the people to sedition, 

3. He is an enemy to the laws. 

4. He calls Himself the Son of God. 

5. He calls Himself falsely the King of Israel. 

6. Hp went into the temple followed by a multitude car- 
rying palms in their hands. 

Orders from the first centurion, Quirrilus Cornelius, to 
bring them to the place of execution: 

Forbid all persons, rich or poor, to prevent the execution 
of Jesus. 

The witnesses who have signed the execution of Jesus are: 

1. Daniel Robani, Pharisee. 

2. John Zorababel. 

3. Rephael Robani. 

4. Capet. 



122 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE, 

Jesus to be taken out of Jerusalem through the gate of 
Tournes. 

This sentence is engraved on a plate of brass, in the 
Hebrew language, and on its sides are the following words : 
"A similar plate has been sent to each tribe." It was dis- 
covered in the year 1280, in the city of Aquilla, in the king- 
dom of Naples, by a search made for the Roman antiquities, 
and remained there until it was found by the commission of 
arts in the French army of Italy. Up to the time of the 
campaign in southern Italy it was preserved in the sacristry 
of the Carthusians, near Naples, where it was kept in a box 
of ebony. Since then the relic has been kept in the chapel 
of Caserta. The Carthusians obtained by their petitions that 
the place might be kept by them, which was an acknowledg- 
ment of the sacrifices which they made for the French army. 
The French translation was made literally by the member of 
arts. Denon had a fcusimile of the plate engraved, which 
was bought by Lord Howard, on the sale of his cabinet, for 
2,890 francs. There seems to be no historical doubts as to 
the authenticit}' of this. The reasons of the sentence corre- 
spond exactly with those in the Gospel. 

This is one of the sublimest facts in the gospel histor}'. 
It is a great hinge truth. It is the climax of miracle. It is 
the dynamic element of evangelization. It was the irresisti- 
ble argument of the apostles. It made Christ crucified the 
Son of God with power. An enthusiastic preacher calls it 
"God's amen, and the hallelujah of humanity." The chief 



THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST, 123 

priests and Pharisees seem to have feared the predicted 
rising of Jesus more than they had His wonderful life. But 
the scene transpired, as do all God's plans and purposes, to 
the discomfiture of His enemies. That Sunday morning of 
the passover was the brightest that ever dawned upon our 
world. For it witnessed the resurrection of the Saviour, and 
was hence consecrated as the christian Sabbath — a perpet- 
ual memorial day of the completed work of redemption. 
Did not the creation wear a brighter smile that morning, 
and every one of its myriad flowers sparkle as with a celes- 
tial hue } We know that bright angels visited the earth and 
spoke of the glorious event. 

Christ's resurrection was the verification of His own words. 
He could fulfill His predictions. How assuring, therefore, 
are all the gracious words that fell from His lips. Under- 
neath every invitation is the divine sincerity. Sustaining and 
accomplishing every promise is the power of the Highest. 

The resurrection of Christ proved Him the Messiah. No 
other teacher or prophet could thus triumph over death and 
the grave. He came out of the silence of the dead, and from 
the sealed tomb prison, with the inherent energy of God — 
Himself the resurrection and the life. His triumph was 
unique and unparalleled. Glorious it is to follow such a 
leader and trust such a conqueror! 

Christ's resurrection confirmed the faith of the early 
saints and realized their hope of eternal blessedness. It is 
also the pledge and promise of the resurrection of all His 
disciples. His is the type of ours. How inspiring to the 
believer! Death is disarmed; the grave is hallowed. The 
vine has gone up — the branches will follow. 



124 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

We look upon the grassy mounds where dear dust re- 
poses, and the eye of faith sees them changed into a field 
sown with the seed of immortality. Though so-^i^m amid 
mourners' tears the harvest shall be amid angel's joys, and 
instead of the perishing body we gave back to the earth 
shall come forth the noble, radiant, immortal form. 

FACT. MATTHEW. :.L\RK. LUKE. JOHN. 

I. ..... . .xxviii, I .xvi, i, 4 xxiv, i, 2 xx, I. 

2 Omitted Omitted Omitted xx, 2-10. 

3 xxviii, 5,7 xvi, 5-7 xxiv, 4-S xx, 11-13. 

4 xxviii, 7 xvi, S-ii xxiv, 9-10 xx, 14-18. 

5 Omitted Omitted xxiv, 12 Omitted. 

6 Omitted xvi, 12, 13 xxiv, 13-35 Omitted. 

7 xxviii, 16, 17. . . ,xvi, 14, 15 xxiv, 36 xx, 19. 

The leading facts are here reduced to seven, which are 
marked with numerical letters, i, 2, etc. On No. i it may 
be proper to remark that on comparing the different evan- 
gelists it seems that the women did not come all to the 
sepulchre at one time, but some at daybreak and the other 
women not till sunrise, Xone of them seem to have been 
aware that Nicodemus had brought spices on the night 
before, or that the sepulchre had been sealed and guarded. 
On fact 3 we may remark that Matthew and Mark mention 
the appearance of one angel, Luke and John two. Perhaps 
one only spoke and appeared the principal. 



GEOGRAPHT OF THE GOSPELS. 125 

Abilene (a grassy domain). A small territory, south of 
Baalbec, the precise limits of which are unknown. It took 
its name from its principal town, Abila. It formed part of 
Coelo-Syria, between Libanus and Ante-Libanus, and north- 
west of Damascus. Luke iii, i. 

Arimathea (an elevated place). Supposed by Eusebius 
and Jerome to be the same place as Ramathaim (I Samuel i, 
19). Its exact position has not as yet been ascertained, but 
many suppose that the present Ramleh occupies the site. 
Matthew xxvii, 57. 

Bethabara (a place of passage). A ford across the 
Jordan. There were several fording-places along the river, 
all known by this name. The ford mentioned in John i, 28, 
it is thought, was a few miles distant from Scythopolis — the 
ancient Bethsban. There was also a ford opposite Jericho 
(Judges vii, 24). 

Bethany (place of dates). At one place near the Jordan, 
and bearing this name, John received the multitudes who 
flocked to his baptism. Another Bethany, distant from Jeru- 
salem about two miles, the residence of Mary and Martha and 
their brother Lazarus. John xi, 1-16. Even now Bethany is 
thus described by travelers: "It is a lovely spot, though but 
a scene of ruin and poverty. The soil is good, but miserably 
neglected. The ravine in which it lies is terraced, and the 
terraces are covered with fruit trees or waving grain. It is 
overshadowed on the north and west by the Mount of Olives, 
and is in every respect a most charmingly secluded spot — 
a fitting place of quiet retirement such as Jesus sought when 



126 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE, 

He desired to escape from the angry Pharisees. Matthew 
xxvi, 6. See, also, Mark xiv, 3 ; John xii, 2 ; Matthew xxi, 
17, and Mark xi, 11 ; also, Luke xxiv, 50. 

Bethesda (house of mercy). A pool, described as being 
near the sheep-gate of the city of Jerusalem, whose waters 
possessed strong healing properties. Near Bethlehem there 
is an excavation not unlike the pools of Solomon, which 
some suppose to be the basin referred to in John v, 1-8. It 
is situated south of St. Stephen's, or the sheep-gate, and is 
under the shade of the Mosque of Omar. 

Bethlehem (house of bread). "The city of David." So 
called because it was the place of his birth. It was gener- 
ally called Bethlehem- Judah, to distinguish it from another 
place of the same name in the tribe of Zebulon (Joshua ix, 
15; Judges xii, 10). It is distant south of Jerusalem six 
miles. There has never been any doubt or dispute respect- 
ing its site. From the circumstance of its being the birth- 
place of " the holy child Jesus " pilgrims and tourists to the 
Holy Land from every clime and of every creed look upon 
their visit to Bethlehem as among the most interesting inci- 
dents of their journey. Luke iii, 1-7. 

Bethphage (place of figs). A hamlet or village situated 
on the west declivity of the Mount of Olives. Site unknown. 
Matthew xxi, i ; Luke xix, 29, 

Bethsaida (place of fishing). There were two towns or 
fishing villages of this name, one in Galilee, on the western 
side of the Lake Tiberias, and not far distant from Caper- 
naum (John i, 45, xii, 21 ; Mark viii, 23), the other in Decap- 
olis, on the northeastern shore, near to where the Jordan 
enters the lake. It was enlarged and adorned by Philip the 



GEOGRAPHT OF THE GOSPELS. 127 

tetrarch, who called it Julias, in honor of his wife, a daughter 
of the Emperor Augustus. Near here Jesus miraculously 
fed five thousand persons. Matthew xiv, 13-21; Mark vi, 
30-44; Luke ix, 10-17; John vi, 1-13. 

Cana of Galilee. Celebrated as being the scene of our 
Lord's first miracle (John ii, i-ii), and where he was waited 
on by messengers from the Roman centurion quartered at 
Capernaum (John iv, 43-54). One of the Nathanaels was 
born here (John xxi, 2). Its site has not been identified 
beyond dispute, for the traditional Cana, under the name of 
Kefr Keuna, is still an open question. 

Capernaum. Site not identified ; but Dr. Robinson, who 
traveled much in the Holy Land, was fain to locate it at the 
northern extremity of a beautiful plain stretching from the 
western shore of the Lake of Tiberias. John ii, 12. To 
account for the difficulty in locating such an important city 
as it once was, refer to Matthew xi, 23. "Often as Caper- 
naum is mentioned in the New Testament, as the residence 
of our Lord and the scene of His teaching and miracles, 
there yet occurs no specification of its local situation, except 
the notice that it lay upon the sea-coast, in the borders of 
Zebulon and Nephthalim." 

Cesarea Philippl Anciently "Paneas," now "Banias," 
is a village at the foot of Lebanon, about fifteen miles from 
the northern extremity of Lake Tiberias. Matthew xvi, 
13-20; Mark vii, 29. Here is one of the sources of the 
river Jordan. Philip the tetrarch embellished and enlarged 
it, and named it Cesarea, in honor of the emperor Tiberias ; 
afterward, in compliment to Nero, it was called Neronias. 
Philippi was added to distinguish it from Cesarea, a seaport 



128 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE, 

on the Mediterranean Sea, which was frequently visited by 
the apostles. Acts viii, 40, ix, 30. 

Chorazin. a town of Galilee a short distance north of 
the sea, or lake, of that name. It is mentioned in connection 
with Capernaum and Bethsaida. Matthew xi, 21; Luke x, 
13. Its site is still undiscovered. 

Dalmanutha. a village west of the Sea of Tiberias, in 
the district of Magdala. Matthew xv, 39; Mark viii, 10. 

Magdala (tower). A town on the western shore of Gen- 
nesaret, the probable birthplace of Mary Magdalene — Mary 
of Magdala. After the destruction of Jerusalem by the 
Romans it became a seat of Jewish learning. Matthew xv, 
39 ; Mark viii, 10. 

Emmaus (hot baths). This city was distant from Jerusa- 
lem about seven and a half miles. The site is now unknown. 
Luke xxiv, 13. Some are of opinion that it was on the site 
of Emmaus the Roman city called Nicopolis was afterward 
built, but this opinion is controverted. 

JEnon (fountain). According to Eusebius this place was 
distant northeast from Jerusalem about fifty miles, and about 
eight Roman miles south of Scythopolis. John iii, 23. It 
was contiguous to Salem, where there was much water — 
probably a fountain which sent forth numerous streams. 

Ephraim (fruitfulness). A city in the mountainous coun- 
try near the wilderness of Judea, at the edge of the tribe of 
Ephraim, distant from Jerusalem about eight miles. Its 
exact situation it is impossible to fix. John xi, 54. 

Gadara — The Country of the Gadarenes — The 
Country of the Gergesenes. "The reading here has 
been thought doubtful, the manuscripts fluctuating between 



GEOGRAPHY OF THE GOSPELS, 129 

Gergesens, Gadarenes and Gerasenes. The weight of author- 
ity, as far as regards the number of manuscripts, is in favor 
of the first mentioned, which is the common reading." The 
place was not within the territory of Judea, but in that por- 
tion of the land once occupied by the two and a half tribes 
east of Jordan. Gadara, no doubt, was the principal city of 
the district, for Josephus calls it the metropolis of Perea. 
Gergesa was, probably, the nearer country town, and well 
enough known to the Jews, for whom Matthew wrote. Mat- 
thew viii, 28-33; Mark v, 1-14; Luke viii, 26-34. 

Galilee. A large and fertile territory forming the north- 
ern division of Palestine in the time of our Saviour, Between 
it and Judea lay the territory of Samaria. Galilee was di- 
vided into Upper and Lower Galilee. Upper, or the more 
northern division, bordered on the region of Tyre and Sidon, 
on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, and extended east- 
ward of the river Jordan. Lower Galilee was between the 
Mediterranean Sea and Lake Gennesaret. Galilee was ex- 
tremely populous — said to contain 3,600,000 inhabitants at 
this time, among whom were Egyptians, Arabians, Phoeni- 
cians, etc., from which circumstance it was called Galilee of 
the Gentiles. Matthew iv, 12, 15 ; Luke iv, 14, etc. 

Sea of Galilee. So called from the province which it 
watered (Matthew iv, 18); called the Sea of Tiberias from 
a town of that name near the middle of its western shore 
(John vi, I, xxi, i), and The Sea (Mark iii, 7-8). The extent 
of the lake is thus described by Dr. Robinson: "The dis- 
tance in a straight line from the entrance of the Jordan in 
the north to its exit in the south cannot be more than eleven 
or twelve geographical miles, and the greatest breadth is not 



130 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

far from six geographical miles, while the breadth opposite 
Tiberias is about five miles." 

Gethsemane (oil valley or oil press). A small field or 
garden just outside Jerusalem, over the brook Kidron, and 
at the foot of the Mount of Olives. Its present condition is 
thus described by a recent traveler: "At the base of the 
Mount of Olives, just over the brook Kidron, where the 
road to Jericho joins that to Bethany, on your right hand, 
lies a bare and sterile plat of ground surrounded by a wall 
of unhewn stone. It is shaded by eight aged and gnarled 
olive trees, upon which the suns of many centuries have 
risen and set. It is a place of loneliness and seclusion — 
just such a spot as a soul desiring to be alone with God 
would choose when the shades of evening were gathered 
over it. Such is Gethsemane." Matthew xxvi, 36; Mark 
xiv, 32 ; John xviii, i. 

Hill Country of Judea. The hilly district south of 
Jerusalem and Bethlehem, from the region around Hebron 
to the plain of Sharon. In that part where it is supposed 
Zecharias and Elizabeth lived is a city called Juttah, which 
is honored by tradition as being the birthplace of John. 
Luke i, 39. 

Hell, or Gehenna. Matthew v, 22. The place referred 
to is said to have been once a beautiful spot at the foot of 
Mount Moriah, lying partly in the valley of Jehoshaphat and 
partly in the valley of Hinnom, and watered by the river 
Siloam, It was called Tophet, because of the sacrifices that 
were offered there to Moloch by beat of drum, which in 
Hebrew is called toph. King Josiah defiled the place, and 
afterward it became the receptacle for all the refuse of the 



GEOGRAPHY OF THE GOSPELS. 131 

city, and as much of the refuse was combustible it was 
enjoined to get rid of it by burning, hence Gehenna-Fire. 

Iturea. a district on the east side of the Jordan, so 
called from Jetur, one of the sons of Ishmael. Genesis xxv, 
15; I Chronicles i, 31. It was taken from the descendants 
of Jetur by the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half tribe 
of Manasseh. I Chronicles v, 19. It formed the tetrarchy 
of Philip, one of the sons of Herod the Great. Luke iii, i. 

Jacob's Well. Near to the city of Sychar (which see). 

Jericho was situated about twenty miles northeast of 
Jerusalem, in the way to Bethabara, the great ford over the 
Jordan, The road runs through a rocky and desert country, 
and in many places is fatiguingly steep and difficult. " It is 
so shut in by mountain heights and savage crags that in 
many parts scarcely can a breeze reach the traveler; and 
when the vertical sun sends down his beams into the narrow 
passage, the heat reflected from the chalky sides of the 
ravine scorches like a furnace." To add to these disadvan- 
tages the road was long infested by thieves and robbers. 
Luke X, 30-37, xviii, 35. 

Wilderness of Judea. A sparsely inhabited, partially 
cultivated, and a generally dry and barren tract of country, 
northeast of Jerusalem and north of the Dead Sea, and ex- 
tending on both sides of the Jordan. Matthew iii, i. 

Cedron, or KiDRON (the turbid). A mountain winter 
current which flows through the valley of Jehoshaphat, on 
the east of Jerusalem. While a few of the many recent 
travelers in Palestine have visited Kidron at a time favora- 
ble to see the rushing stream hasten past, the much larger 
number have only been able to report "A dry bed of a 



132 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

winter torrent, bearing marks of being occasionally swept 
over by a large volume of water." John xviii, i. 

Nain. a city in Galilee, in the plain of Esdraelon, and 
seated on the river Kishon, not far from Endor, a few miles 
south of Mount Tabor and near to the foot of Little Her- 
mon. Nain is mentioned in Luke vii, ii, but nowhere else 
in the Scriptures. " No place in all this land," writes a trav- 
eler, "furnishes more remarkable illustrations of the sov- 
ereignty of God than do the two villages of Endor and 
Nain. At Endor you see a king in the anguish of despair 
consulting with a diviner, and warned by the dead that the 
Lord had departed from him. On the same plain, nigh to 
Endor, a thousand years after, you see at Nain the tender- 
hearted Jesus, God's only-begotten and beloved Son, wiping 
away the tears of a poor widow." The modern name is 
Nein. 

Nazareth. A small city of Galilee, about seventy miles 
north of Jerusalem, and about six miles west of Mount 
Tabor. Luke i, 26. The situation of Nazareth is very 
romantic, seated upon the lower slope of the western side 
of an oblong basin extending about a mile in length and 
half a mile in breadth. It was notorious for its wickedness, 
for being a frontier town the worst characters from the bor- 
dering Gentile nations made it their asylum and retreat from 
justice and revenge. It is a thriving little city at the present 
time, and its population, consisting of Christians and Mo- 
hammedans, numbers about three thousand. 

Naphthali, or Nephthalim. The borders of the di- 
vision of Canaan which fell to the tribe of Naphthali. Their 
inheritance was along the south of Lebanon. 



GEOGRAPHY OF THE GOSPELS. 133 

Olives, Mount of. This mountain, which is, in fact, 
composed of three hills, whose summits verge from north to 
south, is distant from Jerusalem, directly east, about a mile. 
The highest of these hills is the middle one, six hundred 
feet above the bed of the Kidron, and about twenty-four 
hundred feet above the level of the Mediterranean Sea. On 
its summit is a beautiful little temple of marble, erected, 
according to tradition, over the spot last touched by the 
Saviour's feet. The mountain is under cultivation, divided 
into fields, and beautifully ornamented with olive, apricot, fig, 
almond, and many other shrubs and trees. From its summit 
is seen the mountainous country which intervenes between 
Jerusalem and Jericho, the valley of the Jordan, the Dead 
Sea, the hills of Moab, the hill Scopus (where Titus pitched 
his camp), the village of Anathoth (Jeremiah's birthplace), 
Mizpeh, the summits of the great central mountain chain of 
Judea, the glittering roofs of Bethlehem, and the Mount of 
Offence (where Solomon set up idols to gratify the wishes of 
his foreign wives), and other places interesting to the Bible 
student. 

Ramah. How near this place was to Bethlehem, the scene 
of the massacre of the innocents, cannot be settled. Proba- 
bly the quotation in Jeremiah xxxi, 15, was used with refer- 
ence rather to the calamity than the locality. Matthew ii, 8. 

Samaria (watch height). The middle division of Pales- 
tine, Judea being on the south of it and Galilee on the north. 
Samaria is intersected by a range of mountains, from which 
innumerable rills, streams and torrents rush down, irrigating 
the valleys and causing them to "bud and blossom as the 
rose." The valleys were not only fertile, but the hills were 



134: HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

cultivated to their summits, occasionally enriched with wood, 
in clusters of olive and other trees, rich in fruit and foliage. 

Sychar. Anciently Shechem, now Nablous, is situated 
on the foot of Mount Gerizim, amid fragrant bowers and 
groves of stately trees. At the present time it consists of two 
long streets running through the center of the valley, inter- 
sected by smaller streets. The population numbers rather 
more than a thousand, chiefly Mohammedans. It is about 
ten miles southeast of the city of Samaria. Jacob's Well 
is within a mile from the town, on the east side. John iii, 23. 
Sychar, or Shechem, or Nablous, is a very ancient place. See 
Genesis xxxiii, 19. 

Salim, or Salem, where John baptized, lay, probably^but 
a few — say a dozen — miles distant from Sychar. Mimpriss 
represents ^non as within a few miles of the Jordan, north- 
east of Samaria and Sychar, but Sychem he locates at about 
equal distance from, but much nearer to, those cities. Their 
sites cannot be satisfactorily ascertained. 

Sarepta (Hebrew Zarephath) was seated on the sea- 
coast, between the cities of Tyre and Sidon. The present 
city is removed a little from the ancient site, and goes by the 
name Surafeud. The surrounding scenery is much praised 
by travelers. 

Sidon (now called Saida). On the coast of the Mediter- 
ranean. This is one of the oldest cities or towns in the world. 
It stands on the northwest of a small promontory, is walled, 
and contains a considerable number of houses of the better 
class. It is abundantly supplied with water, and the environs 
everywhere exhibit a luxuriant verdure. On a rock in the sea, 
fronting the town, stands a castle or fortress. The inhabit- 



GEOGRAPHT OF THE GOSPELS. 135 

ants number about seven thousand, chiefly Musselmans, who 
carry on a considerable trade with adjacent towns in silk 
and cotton manufacture and in boots, shoes and slippers. A 
colony from Sidon founded Tyre at a very early date. 

Tyre (now Sur). An ancient city of Phoenicia, originally 
founded by a colony from Sidon. See Isaiah xxiii, 12. The 
Tyrians had two cities under one name, the oldest being on 
the shore of the mainland and the other upon a small island 
about one-third of a mile from the shore. The present Tyre 
(Sur) is but a small market town and a small seaport. Its 
chief export is the tobacco raised upon the neighboring hills. 

SiLOAM. A pool situated at the foot of Mount Zion, close 
to which, according to some, stood a village in ancient times. 
The water which flows into the basin — an artificial con- 
struction — comes from subterranean channels under the hill 
Ophel. A stream from the pool is conducted along the base 
of the hill in a narrow channel hewn in the rocky bottom, 
and is then led off to irrigate gardens of fruit trees and other 
plants set out in terraces down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. 

Trachonitis (modern El Ledja). It has Damascus on 
the north, Iturea on the south, Arabia Deserta on the east, 
and Batanea on the west. It derived its name from the 
Trachones (rocky) mountains. Philip obtained this province 
from the Romans on condition that he would extirpate the 
robbers. 

Zebulon. The territory originally possessed by the tribe 
of that name. It extended from the Sea of Galilee to the 
Mediterranean Sea, and was bounded on the north by the 
territory of Asher and Naphthali, and on the south by that 
of Issachar. Matthew iv, 15. 



136 



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Achaia Romans xv. 

Arabia Galatians i. 

Asia Acts ii. 

Bithy nia Acts xvi. 

Canaan Matthew xv. 

Cilicia Acts vi. 

Crete Acts ii. 

Cyprus Acts i v. 

Dalmatia II Timothy 3v. 

Egypt Acts ii ; Hebrews ill. 

Elam Acts ii. 

Ethiopia Acts viii, 

Galatia Acts xvi. 

Greece Acts vi. 

Illyricum Romans xv. 

Italy Acts xviii. 

Madian Acts vii. 

Pontus Acts ii. 

Rhodes (Island) Acts xxi. 

Sinai (Mount) Galatians iv. 

Spain Romans xv. 

Syria Luke ii. 

Babylon Matthew i. 

Nineveh Luke xi. 

Syracuse Acts xx viii. 

Rome Acts xviii. 

Sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia Acts xxvii. 



MATTHEW. 

Matthew, or Levi, the apostle and evangelist, was the son 
of Alpheus. He was a Galilean by birth, a Jew by religion, 
and a publican or tax-collector by profession in the employ 
of the Roman government, which lucrative post he cheer- 
fully relinquished for the sake of Christ, on whom he became 



146 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE, 

a faithful attendant, having been an eye-witness of His mira- 
cles. It is related of him that he preached the gospel in 
Judea for eight years, and then went to promulgate the faith 
among the Gentiles. He labored to evangelize Ethiopia, 
Persia and Parthia, and at length suffered martyrdom at 
Nadabbar, in Asiatic Ethiopia, a.d. ^2, 

MARK. 

Mark, the evangelist, whose Hebrew name was John, was 
the son of a pious woman of Jerusalem, at whose house the 
apostles and first Christians often met for prayer (Acts xii, 
12), and it is supposed that his conversion was under the 
ministry of Peter, who calls him his son (I Peter v, 13). He 
accompanied Paul and Barnabas in their missionary labors 
in Salamis, Cyprus and other countries, when he returned to 
the apostles at Jerusalem (Acts xiii, 5-13). He also labored 
with Peter, who sent him to Alexandria, in Egypt, where he 
founded a church and where he died a martyr's death in the 
eighth year of Nero's reign. 

LUKE. 

Luke was a native of Antioch, and a physician by profes- 
sion. It is supposed he was a Gentile converted to Judaism 
in his youth, and subsequently to Christianity under the 
preaching of Paul, whose faithful and constant companion 
he was for several years in his various travels, labors and 
sufferings. Jerome says of his death that he was "hung on 
an olive-tree by a party of Greek infidels," at the age of 
eighty-four. 



THE NEW TESTAMENT WRITERS. 147 

JOHN. 

John was the son of Zebedee, a fisherman of Bethsaida, 
a town of Galilee. He is called an evangelist because he 
wrote a Gospel, and also to distinguish him from John the 
Baptist. According to Jerome he founded the churches of 
Asia, Smyrna, Pergamas, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and 
Laodicea. He and his brother James were called by Christ 
to be His apostles, and on account of their powerful elo- 
quence they were surnamed Boanerges (sons of thunder). 
John was preeminently beloved by his Lord, and to his 
affection He committed the care of His mother when on 
the cross. He was banished to the Isle of Patmos, in the 
^gean Sea, by the Emperor Domitian, where he wrote the 
book of Revelation; was recalled from banishment by the 
Emperor Nerva, and during the reign of the Emperor 
Trojan he died in peace among his fellow Christians at 
Ephesus, A.D. IOC, at the advanced age of about a hundred 
years. 

PAUL. 

Paul was an Israelite, of the tribe of Benjamin, and both 
of his parents were Hebrews. He was a native of Tarsus, 
in Cilicia, and by birth a free citizen of imperial Rome. Be- 
fore his call to the apostleship he was known by his Hebrew 
name, Saul, but he used his Roman name, Paul, among the 
Gentiles. He was a pupil of the great Jewish rabbi, Gama- 
liel; was educated in all the learning of the day; by trade a 
tent-maker, in religion a zealot, and a persecutor of Christi- 
anity before his conversion, which was of a miraculous 



14:8 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

nature by a voice from heaven; was baptized and assumed 
the name of Paul. Of his sufferings it is recorded that he 
was shipwrecked three times, imprisoned, beaten with rods, 
and stoned. He preached the gospel in Jerusalem, Arabia, 
Asia, Greece, Illyricum, Rome and Great Britain. His writ- 
ings embrace fourteen Epistles, in which he vindicates the 
dispensation of God's mercy to the Gentile as well as to the 
Jew. After being the instrument of inestimable blessings to 
the church of God by his preaching, example and writings, he 
sealed the truth of the gospel with his blood, being beheaded 
at Rome, June 29, a.d. (i()y by order of the Emperor Nero. 

JAMES. 

James was called "The Less," to distinguish him from 
James the brother of John, who was put to death by Herod. 
He was the son of Alpheus Cleophas, and is called the 
Lord's brother, because he was of the kindred of the Virgin 
Mary, and surnamed " The Just " on account of the admira- 
ble holiness of his life. He is mentioned as having been 
the first bishop of the Christian church at Jerusalem, where 
he presided at its first council, a.d. 51. Eusebius says that 
he suffered martyrdom at the hands of Ananias the high 
priest, and the scribes and Pharisees, who at the feast of the 
passover threw him down from the battlements of the tem- 
ple, being enraged that his doctrine was received by so 
many, and while he was praying for his barbarous murderers 
some of them beat him on the head with a fuller's club, from 
which he died on the spot. This occurred while the Roman 
governor was absent from Jerusalem, a.d. 62. 



THE NEW TESTAMENT WRITERS, 1^9 

PETER. 

Peter was the son of Jonas, a fisherman of Bethsaida. 
His original name was Simon, to which Christ added the 
surname of Cephas, which is a Syriac word for stone; in 
Greek it is petrosy whence he was called Peter. In temper 
he was very impetuous and zealous, and hasty in forming his 
opinions, which fault Christ corrected by permitting and 
foretelling his denial of that Master to whose service he had 
so zealously pledged himself. He denied him three times in 
the high priest's hall on the night of the betrayal. He was 
the first apostle to whom Christ appeared after His resurrec- 
tion — probably to comfort him under his great sorrow for 
his fall. Three thousand souls were converted and baptized 
upon his first preaching. He was persecuted and imprisoned 
for preaching the gospel by Herod Agrippa. On the night 
before his intended execution an angel opened the prison 
doors and conducted him to a place of safety. His first 
mission was in Samaria, but he also preached the gospel in 
Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia and Asia. Tradition reports 
that he came to Rome during the persecution under Nero, 
and that he was apprehended and put to death about three 
miles from the city. It is also said that, being sentenced to 
be crucified, and remembering his shameful denial of his 
Saviour, he requested that he might be allowed to suffer 
with his head downward, as unworthy to die in the same 
position as his Master, which was the manner of his punish- 
ment, A.D. d^. We possess two Epistles written by this 
devoted apostle. 



150 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE, 

JUDE. 

Jude, or Lebbeus, surnamed Thaddeus, was the brother 
of James the Less. At the commencement of his ministry- 
he preached the gospel in Judea, Samaria, GaUlee and 
Idumea, and afterward in Arabia, Syria, Mesopotamia and 
Persia, confirming his doctrine with miracles. There seems 
to be no certainty as to where he terminated his ministry, 
though it is related by some that he was put to death by the 
Magi in Persia. 

Matthew suffered martyrdom by the sword in Ethiopia. 

Mark died at Alexandria, after being dragged through the 
streets of that city. 

Luke was hanged on an olive-tree in Greece. 

John was put into a caldron of boiling oil, but escaped 
death and was banished to Patmos. 

Peter was crucified at Rome with his head downward. 

James was beheaded at Jerusalem. 

James the Less was thrown from a pinnacle of the Tem- 
ple and beaten to death below. 

Philip was hanged against a pillar in Phrygia. 

Bartholomew was flayed alive. 

Andrew was bound to a cross, whence he preached to his 
persecutors till he died. 

Thomas was run through the body at Coromandel, India. 

Jude was shot to death with arrows. 

Matthias was first stoned and then beheaded. 

Barnabas was stoned to death by Jews at Salonica. 

Paul was beheaded at Rome by Nero. 



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WYCLIF'S BIBLE i St. Mark xv. 33-41 — Late Fourteenth Century. 
British Museum, Add MS. 15,580.1 

This MS. contains the earlier Wyclinte translation, which was completed about the year 1332, 
W yclif died in 13S4. A later version, the work of John Pur\-ey, was issued in 1388. 



PART IV-MISCELLANEOUS. 



ANGLO-SAXON. 

From Thorpe's edition of the Anglo-Saxon Gospels. London, 1842. 

F^DER lire, thu the eart on heofenum, Si thin nama 
gehalgod. To-becume thin rice. Geweorthe thin willa 
on eorthan, swa swa on heofenum. Urne dseghwamlican 
hlaf syle us to-dseg. And forgyf tis lire gyltas, swa swa we 
forgifath lirum gyltendum. And ne gelaede thu us on cost- 
nunge, ac alys us of yfle : Sothlice. 

ENGLISH. 

A.D. 1250. 

Fader our in heven, halewyed bethe thy name, com thy 
kingeriche, thy will bethe don in heven and in erthe, our 
everich day breid gif ous to day. And forghive our own 
dettes as we forghiven our dettoures. And lede ous nought 
into temptation bot delyver ous from ivel. Amen. 

A.D. 1300. 
Fadir our in hevene, Halewyed be thi name, come thi 
kingdom, thi will be don as in heven and in erthe, oure uche 
dayes bred give us to day. And forgive us our dettes as we 
forgiven our dettoures. And lede us not into temptation. 
Bote delyvere us of yvel. Amen. 



152 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE, 

A.D. 1379. WICKLIFFE's BIBLE. 

Our Fadyr that art in heavenes, Halloed be thy name. 
Let thy kingdom come thy wyll be fulfilled as well in erth 
as hit ys in heven. Give vs this daye cure dayly breads. 
And forgive vs our treaspasess even as we forgive them 
which treaspas vs. Leede vs not into temptation but de- 
lyvre vs from yvill. Amen. 

A.D. 1526. TYNDALE's testament. 

O oure father which art in heven, Halowed be thy name. 
Let thy kingdom come. Thy wyll be fulfilled as well in erth 
as hit ys in heven. Give vs this daye oure dayly breads. 
And forgive vs our treaspasess even as forgive them which 
treaspas vs. Leede vs not into temptation delyvre vs from 
yvell. Amen. 

A.D. 1589. COVERDALE's BIBLE. 

Our father which art in heaven, halowed be thy name. 
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done even in earth as it is 
in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive 
us dettes as we also forgive our detters. And leade us not 
into tentations but deliver us from evill, for thine is the 
kingdom and the power and the glori for ever. Amen. 

From a "Horn-Book" in the time of Queen Elizabeth. 

Our father which art in heaven ! hallowed be thy Name. 
Thy Kingdome come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in 
heaven. ►J* Give us this day our daily bredd. And forgive 
us our trespasses, as We forgive them that trespasse us. And 
let us not be ledd into temptation : but deliver us from evill. 
Amen. 



SUPPRESSED BIBLES. 153 

KING JAMES' VERSION. 

From a copy of the Jirst edition of 1611. 

Our father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. 
Thy kingdome come. Thy will be done, in earth, as it is in 
heauen. Give vs this day our dayly bread. And forgiue vs 
our debts, as we forgiue our debters. And leade vs not into 
temptation, bvt deliuer vs from euill : For thine is the king- 
dome, and the power, and the glory, for euer, Amen. 

1538 — An English Bible, in folio, printed at Paris. Unfin- 
ished. 

1542 — Dutch Bible, by Jacob Van Leisvelt. The sixth and 
best edition given by Leisvelt, and famous as being 
the cause of this printer being beheaded. 

1566 — French Bible, by Rene Benoist, Paris. Folio; three 
volumes. Completed. 

1622 — Swedish Bible, printed at Lubeck, in quarto. Very 
defective. 

1666 — A German Bible, printed at Helmstadt in part only. 
Quarto. 

167 1— A French Bible, by Marrolles, in folio, containing 
only the books of Genesis, Exodus, and the first 
twenty-three chapters of Leviticus. 



154 



HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 



\\\ !f Hiit^ tr^ i0h ttt ^[xrd^-^ig^J ^itngttH5$$* 



Hebrew, Elohim or Eloah. 

Chaldaic, Elah. 

Assyrian, Eliah. 

Syriac and Turkish, Alah. 

Malay, Alla. 

Arabic, Allah. 

The Magi, Orsi. 

Old Egyptian, Teut. 

Armorian, Teuti. 

Modern Egyptian, Tenn. 

Greek, Theos. 

Cretan, Thios. 

^olian and Doric, Ilos. 

Latin, Deus. 

Low Latin, Diex. 

Celtic and Gallic, Diu. 

French, Dieu. 

Spanish, Dios. 

Portuguese, Deos. 

Old German, Diet. 

Provengal, Diou. 

Low Breton, DoUE. 

Italian, Dio. 

Irish, Die. 



Olala tongue, Deu. 

German and Swiss, Gott. 

Flemish, Goed. 

Dutch, GoDT. 

English and Old Saxon, God. 

Teutonic, Goth. 

Danish and Swedish, Gut. 

Norwegian, GuD. 

Slavic, BucH. 

Polish, Bog. 

Pollacca, Bung. 

Lapp, JUBINAL. 

Finnish, Jumala. 
Runic, As. 
Pannonian, Istu. 
Zemolian, Felizo. 
Hindostanee, Rain. 
Coromandel, Brama. 
Tartar, Magatal. 
Persin, Sire. 
Chinese, Pussa. 
Japanese, Goezur. 
Madagascar, Zannar. 
Peruvian, Puchocamae. 



STMBOLS OF THE EVANGELISTS. 155 

St. Matthew has a winged man or half man as his emblem. 

St. Mark, a winged lion. 

St. Luke, a winged ox. 

St. John, an eagle. 

Four scrolls, four open books and four rivers are also 
emblems of the evangelists. The four rivers represent para- 
dise. St. Matthew stands by Gihon, St. Mark by the Tigris, 
St. Luke by the Euphrates, and St. John by Pison. 

The symbols of the apostles are generally the instruments 
of their martyrdom, but to this there are exceptions. 

St. Matthew as an apostle has for a symbol a purse of 
money, in allusion to his being a tax-gatherer or publican. 

St. John as an apostle has a cup with a serpent rising 
from it, in remembrance of his having drank poison from 
the holy chalice with impunity. 

St. Peter has the keys. 

St. James the Great, the emblems of pilgrimage. 

St. Thomas has a builder's rule, in memory of the pretty 
legend of his being sent to the king of the Indies to build 
him a palace. 

All the other apostles have for symbols the instruments 
of their martyrdom, as follows: 

St. Paul, the sword by which he died. 

St. Andrew, a cross. 

St. James the Less, a club. 

St. Barnabas, a pilgrim's staff. 

St. Philip, the cross on which he suffered with his head 
downward. 



156 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE, 

St. Bartholomew, a knife by which he was flayed alive. 

St. Simon, a saw by which he suffered. 

St. Jude, a halter by which he was hanged. 

St. Matthias, an axe by which his days were ended. 

The symbols of baptism are three fish entwined in a tri- 
angle. 

The symbol of the holy eucharist is a cup, with three 
small loaves or rolls at its mouth, marked with a cross. 

Of these the most remarkable is the passion -flower — the 
common blue one. Its leaves are thought to represent the 
head of the spear by which cur blessed Lord's side was 
pierced; the five points the five sacred wounds; the tendrils 
the cords which bound Him; the ten petals the ten faithful 
apostles, omitting the one who denied Him (St. Peter) and 
the one who betrayed Him (Judas) ; the pillar in the center 
is the cross ; the stamens, the hammers ; the styles, the nails ; 
the circle around the pillar, the crown of thorns; the radi- 
ance, the glory. It is used on Holy Thursday. 

The fleur-de-lis, or conventional form of the lily, is the 
symbol of the Virgin Mary, adopted in the middle ages. It 
is also an emblem of purity. It is always placed by the 
mediaeval painters in the hand of the angel Gabriel, and 
sometimes in the hand of the infant Saviour and of St. 
Joseph. 

Lilies of the valley are the floral emblem of our Lord. 
The rose of Sharon and the lily of the valley are emblems 
of humility. 



FLORAL EMBLEMS. 157 

The rose is an emblem of our Saviour. 

The laurel is an emblem of victory and glory, also of 
constancy, as the leaf changes only in death. 

Ivy denotes immortality. 

The laurestinus has the same meaning. 

The star of Bethlehem is the emblem of Advent and 
Epiphany. 

The snowdrop and marigold are emblems of the Virgin 
Mary and of purity and truth. 

The violet is an emblem of modesty. 

Pansy (heart-shaped), of charity. 

Rosemary is dedicated to the grave. The custom of using 
it at funerals is thus explained by Wheatley, in his work on 
the Common Prayer: "To express their hopes that their 
friend is not lost forever each person in the company usually 
bears in his hand a sprig of rosemary, — a custom which 
seems to have taken its rise from a practice among the 
heathens." He alludes to their use of cypress at funerals, "a 
tree that being once cut never revives, but dies away." On 
the contrary, rosemary, which is always green, flourishes 
more for being cropped. A sprig put into the ground grows 
well and rapidly. It has astonishing vitality, and is, conse- 
quently, a meet emblem of the life which springs anew from 
the grave. 

Holly, ivy, laurel and box are Christmas festival plants. 

Lilies, passion-flowers, pansies and violets are flowers for 
Easter. 



158 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE, 

Who nearly lost his life by tasting a little honey ? 

I Samuel xiv, 27, 43, 45. 
Which is the most ancient war, and where is it recorded ? 

Genesis xiv. 
Where do we find an allusion to an eclipse of the sun ? 

II Kings XX, II. 
Why were the Israelites kept in the wilderness forty years ? 

Numbers xiv, 34. 
Where is the center of the visible heavens referred to ? 

Job xxxviii, 31. 
What Hebrew lady resided in a college ? 

II Kings xxii, 14. 
What is the first remarkable occurrence after the flood ? 

Genesis viii, 20. 
Where are the disciples first called christians? Acts xi, 26. 
What beautiful comparison is instituted in reference to 
"a word fitly spoken"? Proverbs xxv, 11. 

Who was the first person in Europe converted to Christi- 
anity? Acts xvi, 14. 
Who is the first person on record that was put into a 
coffin? Genesis 1, 26. 
When the Israelites came into Canaan where was the 
tabernacle set up? Joshua xviii, i. 
What are pleasant words compared to ? Proverbs xvi, 24. 
What book of the Bible is that in which the name of the 
Lord does not occur? Esther. 
Who concealed himself on the eve of being proclaimed 
king? I Samuel x, 21, 22. 



BIBLE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 159 

Who conscientiously refused royal honors ? 

Hebrews xi, 24. 

Is Christ ever called an apostle? Hebrews iii, i. 

Where did Moses write the book of Numbers ? 

Numbers xxxvi, 13. 

Who was the antediluvian whose years numbered the 
same as the days in a year? Genesis v, 23. 

Who embalmed the body of Jesus? John xix, 39, 40 

What verse in the Old Testament contains all the letters 
of the alphabet except J ? Ezra vii, 2 1 

Which of the apostles first suffered martyrdom? Acts xii, 2 

What king was prevented by his army from putting his 
son to death ? I Samuel xiv, 45 

What prophetess foretold the destruction of Jerusalem ? 

II Chronicles xxxiv, 22-24 

What was Jacob's name changed to? Genesis xxxii, 28 

Who received the ark of the covenant when sent back by 
the Pnilistines? I Samuel vii, i 

Which is the first intimation we have of a pulpit ? 

Nehemiah viii, 4 

Who was commanded to hide his girdle in a rock ? 

Jeremiah xiii, 4, 5 

Which is the first mention of money ? Genesis xxiii, 9 

Which is the longest prayer on record ? 

I Kings viii, 22-55 

What is the first mention of pen and ink? Ill John, 13 

Where is the mention of a lantern, and on what occasion 
used? John xviii, 3 

Where is the first record of meat being used for break- 
fast and supper? I Kings xvii, 6 



160 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

Who were the three persons thrown into a fiery furnace 
by order of a king, and from which they came out un- 
harmed? Daniel iii, 26. 

What fruit is mentioned as growing on a stick without 
root or branch? Numbers xvii, 8. 

What king was taken prisoner and hung on a tree ? 

Joshua viii. 29. 

Who closed the door of the ark after the entrance of 
Noah and his family? Genesis vii, 16. 

What book is particularly ascribed to Jesus Christ ? 

Revelation i, i. 

Who lodged in a cave in Mount Horeb ? 

I Kings xix, 8, 9. 

Which of the Hebrew prophets was sent out as a mission- 
ary to the heathen ? Jonah i, 2. 

What prophet sent his servant seven times to look for a 
cloud? I Kings xviii, 42,, 44. 

What patriarchs are spoken of in the New Testament as 
patterns of patience? Hebrews vi, 13-15 ; James v, 10, 11. 

After whom was the city of Samaria named? 

I Kings xvi, 24. 

Which is the first account of the purchase of land? 

Genesis xxiii, 16, 17. 

What king's body was thrown at the entrance of a city 
and covered with stones? Joshua viii, 29. 

What servant deceived his master, gained money and was 
severely punished? II Kings v, 20. 

Who tested the favor of the Lord by a fleece of wool? 

Judges vi, z^i, 37. 

What beautiful young lady was made queen in the land 



BIBLE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS, 161 

of her captivity, and by that means saved her people from 
destruction? Esther ii, i6, 17. 

What child at the age of seven years was crowned and 
anointed king? II Kings xi, 12, 21. 

Who feigned himself insane in the presence of an enemy, 
and why did he do so? I Samuel xxi, 12, 13. 

Who was visited by an angel and fed while sleeping 
under a juniper-tree? I Kings xix, 2-5. 

Where did Moses die, and by whom buried? 

Deuteronomy xxxiv, 5, 6. 

Who entertained St. Paul when shipwrecked ? 

Acts xxviii, i, 2. 

How was Christ*s mission described by a reproachful ex- 
pression? Luke XV, 2. 

Who sent spies to view the land of Canaan? Joshua ii, i. 

Who owned an iron bedstead thirteen and a half feet 
long and six feet wide? Deuteronomy iii, 11. 

How long and where did the children of Israel weep 
upon the death of Moses? Deuteronomy xxxiv, 8. 

How long did the waters of the flood prevail upon the 
earth ? Genesis vii, 24. 

Upon what mountain did Abraham offer his son Isaac ? 

Genesis xxii, 2. 

Where are the two parts of the Bible called the Old and 
New Testament? II Corinthians iii, 6, 14. 

Who read the law from a pulpit of wood ? 

Nehemiah viii, i, 4. 

Which is the first famine on record? Genesis xii, 10. 

Who was the first person buried in a cave ? 

Genesis xxiii, 19. 



162 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE 

Who was the silversmith that opposed St. Paul by incit- 
ing a mob against him ? Acts xix, 24. 

The rending of a kingdom was illustrated by a prophet 
tearing his robe into twelve pieces ; — Who was he ? 

I Kings xi, 30. 

Who hid the wheat he was threshing, and why did he do 
so? Judges vi, 11. 

Which is the shortest verse in the New Testament ? 

John xi, 35. 

Who feigned himself mad? I Samuel xxi, 13. 

Who led the song after the passage through the Red Sea? 

Exodus XV, 20, 21. 

Why did St. Paul publicly reprove St. Peter? 

Galatians ii, 1 1-14. 

At whose grave was the first pillar erected ? 

Genesis xxxv, 20. 

From what mount did Christ ascend? Acts i, 11, 12. 

Who caused iron to swim ? II Kings vi, 6. 

Who embalmed Jacob? Genesis 1, 2. 

Who made a contribution-box, and for what purpose was 
the money collected ? II Kings xii, 9. 

What king sowed a city with salt? Judges ix, 45. 

What little boy fell from the arms of his nurse and was 
crippled for life? II Samuel iv, 4. 

Where and upon what mountain did Solomon build the 
temple? II Chronicles iii, i. 

What double purpose did the cloud serve besides guiding 
the Israelites through the wilderness? Psalm cv, 39. 

Who was chosen apostle by the casting of lots to fill the 
place of Judas? Acts i, 26. 



BIBLE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 163 

What are pleasant words compared to in the book of 
Proverbs? Proverbs xvi, 24. 

To what king did Abraham pay tithes? Hebrews vii, i, 2. 

What king's throne was made of ivory? 

II Chronicles ix, 17. 

Which is the first prayer on record? Genesis xxxii, 9-12. 

What kind of wood was used in the building of Solomon's 
temple? I Kings vi, 15. 

How many pillars were there in Solomon's temple ? 

I Kings vii, 15. 

What king was almost persuaded to be a christian ? 

Acts xxvi, 28. 

What are the first recorded words of Christ ? Luke ii, 49. 

What mother in trouble was comforted by an angel? 

Genesis xxi, 16, 19. 

Where did the builders of the tabernacle obtain their 
plans ? Exodus xxv, 40. 

What two kings were deprived of their thrones in the 
midst of their greatest pride? Daniel iv, 29, t^-t^^ v, 22, 30. 

Who prayed that he might never be rich, and what reason 
did he assign? Proverbs xxx, i, 8, 9. 

Who is the first christian that suffered martyrdom ? 

Acts vii, 59, 60. 

What two evangelists sang and prayed in a dungeon ? 

Acts xvi, 25. 

Who appointed the seventy elders? Numbers xi, 16. 

Who received an alarming letter, and what did he do with 
it? II Kings xix, 14. 

Who recorded an exclamation of Moses ages after it was 
spoken? Hebrews xii, 21. 



164 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE, 

What two chapters in the Old Testament are nearly alike? 

II Kings xix; Isaiah xxxvii. 

Who suffered death upon the gallows he erected for 
another? Esther vii, lo. 

Who was the judge that, on hearing bad tidings, fell from 
his seat and broke his neck? I Samuel iv, 17, 18. 

What seven sisters came to a well to draw water? 

Exodus ii, 16. 

By whom was the brazen serpent which was lifted up in 
the wilderness destroyed ? II Kings xviii, 1-4. 

Where are we told that the streets of the city shall be full 
of boys and girls playing? Zechariah viii, 5. 

What prophetess encouraged Barak to fight the Canaan- 
ites? Judges iv, 6, 7. 

What king of Judah employed men to copy the Proverbs 
of Solomon? Proverbs xxv, i. 

How did God punish a person in the time of Moses for 
violating the Sabbath ? Numbers xv, 32, 33. 

In Jacob's deception what did he overlook? 

Genesis xxvii, 22. 

Where were the timbers of the temple hewn, and how 
were they taken to Joppa? II Chronicles ii, 8, 16. 

Who shot an arrow into the air to warn a friend from 
danger? I Samuel xx, 18-20. 

Who was a custom-house officer? Matthew ix, 9. 

What apostle cured a man that had been sick eight years 
with the palsy? Acts ix, 33, 34. 

Which is the first mention we have of a book ? 

Exodus xvii, 14. 

Who wept at the loss of his father's blessing? 

Genesis xxvii, 34, 38. 



BIBLE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 165 

Was Abraham ever guilty of unbelief? 

Genesis xx, 2, xxvi, 7. 
Upon what mountain did Aaron die? 

Numbers xx, 25, 28. 
Who was an engraver by divine appointment ? 

Exodus XXXV, 31, 32. 
Why were two men burned to death in the tabernacle? 

Leviticus x, i, 2. 

Who was the first Gentile convert? Acts x, 1-4. 

By what signs did Gideon know that Israel should be 

saved from the hands of the Midianites? Judges vi, 36-40. 

What king was buried in his own garden ? 

II Kings xxi, 18. 
Why did Moses flee from the land of Egypt ? 

Exodus ii, II, 12, 15. 

When did a message from God prevent a conflict between 

brethren? II Chronicles xi, 1-4. 

What two men made a well a hiding-place from an enemy, 

and what was done by a woman to save them ? 

II Samuel xvii, 16-19. 
What king was smothered by his servant with a wet cloth, 
and for what purpose? II Kings viii, 7-15. 

Where are physicians first named? Genesis 1, 2. 

Where is the division of time called the "hour" first 
named? Daniel iii, 6. 

What is the name of the only woman whose age is re- 
corded? Genesis xxiii, I. 
When was a magnificent kingdom almost entirely rent 
from its sovereign by a few harsh, inconsiderate words ? 

I Kings xii, 6-20. 



166 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

In what case did the oblique glance of the sun determine 
the result of a battle? II Kings iii, 22, 23. 

What Syriac word occurs but three times in Scripture 
and reads the same backward as forward? 

Mark xiv, 2i^\ Romans viii, 15 ; Galatians iv, 6. 
Where did the simple mispronunciation of a word occa- 
sion a great sacrifice of human life? Judges xii, 5, 6. 
Where are the Hebrews for the first time called Jews? 

II Kings xvi, 6. 
Where did Deborah hold her judgment-seat? Judges iv, 5. 
Which is the first recorded voluntary fast? Judges xx, 26. 
Why did a prophet put bonds and yokes on his neck? 

Jeremiah xxvii, 2. 
Who received a blasphemous letter written by the King 
of Assyria? II Kings xix, 14. 

Who said that the Sabbath was made for man ? 

Mark ii, 27. 
Under what tree were earrings once concealed, and by 
whom ? Genesis xxxv, 4. 

What is the smallest gift of money on record ? 

Mark xii, 42. 
What prophet was forbidden to mourn for the death of 
his wife? Ezekiel xxiv, 15-18. 

Why were not the Jews permitted to see their land for 
more than a certain number of years? Leviticus xxv, 23. 
How long did Samson judge Israel? Judges xv, 20. 

Which is the first mention of a plow? 

Deuteronomy xxii, 10. 
What four birds are noted for their sagacity ? 

Jeremiah viii, 7. 



BIBLE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 167 

Which is the first express mention of mendicants or beg- 
gars? Psalm cix, lo. 

What was the most common salutation in words among 
the ancient Hebrews? Judges xix, 20. 

How was the fire on the brazen altar of the tabernacle at 
first kindled, and what express order did God give concern- 
ing it? Leviticus ix, 24, vi, 12, 13. 

What did Jonathan give to David as a pledge of friend- 
ship and esteem ? I Samuel xviii, 4. 

Which is the first mention of lead? Exodus xv, 10. 

Who sent David mechanics and lumber to build him a 
house? I Chronicles xiv, i. 

How long did St. Paul live in his own hired house in 
Rome ? Acts xxviii, 30. 

Who was the first farmer? Genesis iv, 2. 

Who slew a lion in a pit on a snowy day ? 

I Chronicles xi, 22. 
Who saw his sons slain and then was punished with loss 

of sight? II Kings xxv, 7. 

Which is the first supposed case of sunstroke on record ? 

II Kings iv, 18, 19. 
In what city was every tenth man chosen by lot to take 

up his abode in it? Nehemiah xi, i. 

Which is the first service on record? Nehemiah viii, 1-3. 

Who was Timothy's grandmother? II Timothy i, 5, 

What words of Moses are quoted in the New Testament 
which we do not find recorded in the Old? Hebrews xii, 21. 

Where can you find in Scripture a sublime description of 
a storm? Psalm xxix, 3-10. 

What was Baalam's wish respecting his own death? 

Numbers xxiii, 10. 



168 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE, 

Where do you find in Scripture a beautiful description of 
spring? Song of Solomon ii, 11-13. 

Where were the brazen vessels for the temple cast? 

II Chronicles iv, 17. 
What words of Christ mentioned in the New Testament 
are not to be found in any of the Gospels? Acts xx, 35. 

What prophecy was fulfilled in Mary as she stood by the 
cross of her dying son? Luke ii, 35 ; Psalm xlii, lo. 

What two brothers died on mountains without any pre- 
vious disease? Numbers xx, 25-28; Deuteronomy xxxiv, 1-7. 
Who received the same message four times and four times 
returned the same answer? Nehemiah vi, 4. 

What did Solomon ask in preference to wealth ? 

I Kings iii, 9-1 1. 
In what city did the falling of a wall kill 27,000 persons? 

I Kings XX, 30. 
When was there a king and no king at the same time ? 

I Kings xxii, 47. 
What spies were lowered through a window by a cord? 

Joshua ii, i, 15. 
Who had a seamless coat ? John xix, 23. 

When are windows first mentioned? Genesis vi, 16. 

Who knew the Holy Scriptures from childhood ? 

II Timothy iii, 15. 
Who was the first wood engraver? Exodus xxxv, 30, -T^^t- 
Where is printing first mentioned? Job xix, 23. 

Who is the first person on record that wore a ring? 

Genesis xli, 42. 
What flower does the Saviour tell us to think about? 

Matthew vi, 28. 



BIBLE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 169 

What prophet wore a vail, and why ? Exodus xxxiv, 33. 
Who was the first person mentioned as having used a 
saddle? Genesis xxii, 3. 

Which of the apostles was engaged in fishing all night? 

Luke V, 5. 
Who planted the first sacrificial grove? Genesis xxi, 'itZ- 
Who was the first president, and by whom appointed ? 

Daniel vi, 2. 
What child when crying was heard and answered by God ? 

Genesis xxi, 17. 
Where do we find a remarkable and beautiful prediction 
of universal peace under the Gospel ? Isaiah xi, 6-9. 

What four words express the limit of the Holy Land? 

II Samuel xvii, 11. 
What two institutions had their origin before sin entered 
into the world ? Genesis ii, 3, 24. 

When did time begin its flight? Genesis i, 5. 

In what passage are all the four watches of the night 
mentioned? Mark xiii, 35. 

Who received and entertained his guests under a tree ? 

Genesis xviii, 1-4. 
How was magnanimity shown by the refusal of a drink of 
water? II Samuel xxiii, 15-17. 

What was the first prophecy relating to the Saviour? 

Genesis iii, 15. 
What is the first recorded song of the angels ? 

Job xxxviii, 7. 
Who said that she was weary of life ? Genesis xxvii, 46. 
Who was advised by an angel to flee into Egypt ? 

Matthew ii, 13. 



170 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

Who offered a meat offering unto the Lord upon a rock? 

Judges xiii, 19. 
Who was the first shepherdess? Genesis xxix, 9. 

What is the first mention of a pen? Judges v, 14. 

What was Jacob's present to his favorite son ? 

Genesis xxxvii, 3. 
Who carried a little coat to her son every year ? 

I Samuel ii, 19. 
What high priest worshiped his own idols? 

Exodus xxxii, 4, 20. 
Who was advised by an angel to bind on his sandals? 

Acts xii, 8. 
Who is compared to a flower? Job xiv, 2. 

Who predicted the famine in the days of Claudius Caesar ? 

Acts xi, 28. 
What was the first created thing? Genesis i, 3. 

Which is the first mention of St. Paul? Acts vii, 58. 

What class of persons were employed day and night ? 

I Chronicles ix, 2iZ* 
Which is, chronologically, the earliest mention of the saw? 

II Samuel xii, 31. 
In time of a drought who mortgaged their farms to pur- 
chase corn ? Nehemiah v, 3. 
What is the most remarkable instance of devoted friend- 
ship? I Samuel xviii, i. 
Who is the first person on record who took an oath or 
affidavit? Genesis xxi, 24. 
What are the six divisions of the Oriental year? 

Genesis viii, 22. 

What suggestion did Peter receive of the manner of his 

death? John xxi, 18, 19. 



BIBLE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 171 

What king's life was endangered by a stone from the hand 
of a woman? Judges ix, 53. 

What period in the life of Moses is recorded in the New 
Testament but not in the Old ? Acts vii, 30. 

How long were the Israelites under the government of 
judges ? Acts xiii, 2c. 

Which is the first mention of horsemen at a funeral pro- 
cession? Genesis 1, 9. 

Who was asked, " How old art thou " ? Genesis xlvii, 8. 

Who prayed for neither poverty nor riches ? 

Proverbs xxx, 8. 

Whose life was prolonged fifteen years in answer to prayer? 

II Kings XX, 6. 

Which is the first mention of a chimney? Hosea xiii, 3. 

Who was the bearer of St. Paul's Epistle from Corinth to 
Rome? Romans xvi, 27. 

What mother looking out of a window wished for her 
son's return from battle? Judges v, 28. 

What tree, at the Saviour's word, withered ? 

Matthew xxi, 19. 

Who was the first person that died a natural death ? 

Genesis v, 5. 

From whom, and why, did Moses receive his name ? 

Exodus ii, 10. 

For whom did an angel prepare a meal? I Kings xix, 4-8. 

With what was Judah's sin written? Jeremiah xvii, i. 

What is the first use of current money? Genesis xxiii, 16. 

What orphan became a queen? Esther ii, 7, 16. 

What mother in her desolation was comforted by an 
angel? Genesis xxi, 17. 



172 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

What was the Saviour's final command to His disciples? 

Matthew xxviii, 19. 
Where is the sun-dial first mentioned? Isaiah xxxviii, 8. 
What kind of wood was Noah's ark made of? 

Genesis vi, 14. 
Which is the first mention of battering-rams? 

Ezekiel iv, 2, 
Who organized the first temperance society ? 

Jeremiah xxxv, i-io. 
Who prolonged his sermon until midnight? iVcts xx, 7. 
Who was the founder of the Hebrew nation ? 

Genesis xii, 2. 
Where are thorns and thistles first mentioned? 

Genesis iii, 18. 
Who was the second person guilty of theft ? 

Genesis xxxi, 19. 

What Jewish festival (and the only one) were women and 

children required to attend? Deuteronomy xxxi, 11-13. 

What ungodly family was blest for the sake of one godly 

servant? Genesis xxxix, 5. 

What mother was to her royal son a bad counsellor? 

II Chronicles xxii, 2, 3. 
What articles composed the first wedding present? 

Genesis xxiv, 22, 30, 53. 
What queen was deprived of her throne by her son be- 
cause of her idolatry? I Kings xv, 13. 
Of what prophet is it recorded that he ate a book? 

Ezekiel ii, 9, iii, 2. 
Which of the kings of Israel built a house of ivory ? 

I Kings xxii, 39. 



ANCIENT PORTRAIT OF CHRIST 1T3 

What two miracles were wrought upon the sun ? 

Joshua X, 12, 13; II Kings xx, 11. 
When was a mantle the cause of dividing a river? 

II Kings ii, 8. 
What was created and destroyed in one night? 

Jonah iv, 10. 
What is the illustration of a dish wiped and turned upside 
down? II Kings xxi, 13. 

Who is harder to be won than a strong city? 

Proverbs xviii, 19. 
What news did the first carrier-pigeon bring? 

Genesis viii, 8, 9. 
Who wore the first bridal vail? Genesis xxiv, 64, 65. 

What lesson can the birds teach us? Luke xii, 24. 

Whose nurse was buried beneath an oak ? 

Genesis xxxv, 8. 

jintbtti J^xixmi ry\ %\x\%l 

A portrait of Christ, so to speak, was drawn in a remark- 
able letter addressed to the senate of Rome by Publius Len- 
tulus, Roman procurator of Judea in the reign of Tiberius 
Caesar. The authenticity of this singular letter has never 
been doubted. Following is a copy : 

"There has appeared in these days a man of extraordi- 
nary virtue, named Jesus Christ, who is yet living among us, 
and by the people generally accepted of as a prophet, but by 
some he is called the Son of God. He raises the dead and 
cures all manner of diseases. A man tall and comely of 
stature, with a very reverend countenance (such as the be- 



174: HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

holders cannot but love and fear); his hair the color of a 
chestnut full ripe and plain down to his ears, but from thence 
downward more orient of color, waving about his shoulders. 
In the midst of his head there goeth a seam, or partition of 
his hair, after the manner of the Nazarites ; his forehead very- 
plain and smooth ; his face without spot or wrinkle, beauti- 
ful, with a comely red ; his nose and mouth so formed that 
nothing can be found fault with ; his beard somewhat thick, 
agreeable to the hair of his head, not of any great length, 
but forked in the midst; of an inoffensive look; his eyes 
blue, clear, quick. In reproving he is severe; in admonish- 
ing, courteous and friendly \ pleasant in speech, but mixed 
with gravity. It cannot be remembered that any have seen 
him laugh, but many have observed him to weep. In pro- 
portion of body well shaped, and a man for singular beauty 
exceeding the rest of mankind." — From a description of Etty's 
picture of '"''The Disciple^'' in the Vernon Gallery. 

Diamond — Light, innocence, purity and joy. 
Sapphire — Hope, truth, constancy. 
Emerald — Hope, faith, joy and victory. 
Topaz — The goodness of God ; charity. 
Ruby — Divine love. 
Carbuncle — Blood and suffering, 
Sardius — The blood of martyrs. 

The amethyst signifies sorrow, deep love, and suffering, in 
accordance with its color. 

The pearl is the emblem of purity, innocence and humility. 



FLOWERS AS EMBLEMS ON FEAST DATS, 175 

FEAST. SYMBOL. FLOWER. 

Circumcision Eastern cross (pomme).Laurestinu8. 

Epiphany Star (pentangle) Star of Bethlehem. 

Conversion of St. Paul. Sword Winter hellebore. 

Purification of Virgin. Crown and nimbus . . . .Snowdrop. 

St. Matthias An axe Mezereon. 

Annunciation, or Lady j Crown with nimbus, 

Day \ or fleur-de-lis Marigold. 

St. Mark Winged lion Clarimond tulip. 

St. Philip Latin cross tied to a long 

reed ... Red tulip. 

St. James the Less. . . .Club or bat Red bachelors' button. 

St. John the Baptist . . . Tau cross St. John's wort, scarlet 

lichens. 

St. Peter Two keys crossed Yellow or red cocks- 
comb. 

St. James the Great. . .Pilgrim's staff", escalop j St. James' cap, St. 

shell \ James' wort. 

St. Bartholomew Curved knife Sunflower. 

St. Matthew A purse like a bag Passion flower. 

Michaelmas Day St. Michael vanquishing 

the dragon Michaelmas daisy. 

St. Luke Winged ox. Floccose agaric. 

SS. Simon and Jude . .Saw and halter Scattered star wort. 

All Saints. .Bunch of palms Sweet bay, dark red 

sunflower. 

St. Andrew Cross saltire Common ascyrum. 

St. Thomas Builders' rule or square . Sparrow wort. 

Christmas Day A star Holly. 

St. Stephen A stone Purple heath. 

St. John Cup with serpent rising 

from it Flame heath. 

Holy Innocents Palms and snowdrops. .Blood heath snow- 
drops. 

MOVABLE FEASTS. 

Palm Sunday Palma Christi. 

Holy Thursday Winged ox Passion flower. 

Easter Eve . . Violet. 

Easter Sunday Winged lion Lily. 

Ascension Day Eagle Lilies. 

Whitsunday Dove Pansy. 

Trinity Sunday Triangle in circle Heartsease or pansy. 



1T6 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE, 

Bath. A measure for liquids, containing about seven 
and a half gallons, or sixty pints. It was equivalent to the 
ephah, both of them containing the tenth part of a homer. 
Ezekiel xlv, ii; Isaiah v, lo. The molten sea in Solomon's 
temple held three thousand baths. 

Bushel (Matthew v, 15). A corn measure. Our bushel 
was unknown to the Jews. The Greek word translated 
bushel is supposed to be the same as the Hebrew word 
seah^ called "measure" in Genesis xviii, 6, Matthew xiii, 33, 
and Luke xiii, 21. The expression "putting under a bushel " 
was a proverbial saying, illustrative of the folly of depriving 
anything of its utility by putting it to a purpose contrary to 
its original intention. 

Cab, or Kab (II Kings vi, 25). One-third of a homer, or 
about two pints. This was a dry measure ; it is said by some 
to have been a large quart and that it would hold twenty- 
four eggs. 

Cor, or Homer. A liquid measure of about seventy-five 
gallons; equal to ten baths or six hundred pints. Ezekiel 
xlv, 14. 

Cubit. A measure of length. Genesis v, 16. This term 
is applied by the sacred writers to different lengths, but it is 
generally agreed to mean about half a yard, or from eighteen 
to twenty-two inches, the length of a man's arm from the 
point of the elbow to the end of the middle finger. Deuter- 
onomy iii, II. 

Terms of length are often applied to life; we must so 
understand our Lord's words, "Which of you by taking 



BIBLE MEASURES. 177 

thought can add one cubit unto his stature ? " (Matthew vi, 
27). No man would wish to add half a yard to his height; 
the meaning must be to lengthen out life. The Psalmist 
makes beautiful reference to the brevity of life when he says, 
"Behold, Thou hast made my days as a hand-breadth," and 
devoutly prays, " Lord, make me to know mine end, and the" 
measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am" (Psalm 
xxxix, 4-6). 

Ephah. a dry measure of nearly eight gallons, or about 
an English bushel. Leviticus xix, Ty^\ Exodus xvi, 2i^. 

Fathom (Acts xxvii, 28). A measure of length, from six 
to six and a half feet — properly a man's grasp, extending his 
arms and including his breast. 

Finger-breadth (Jeremiah lii, 21). About the breadth 
of six large barleycorns joined in the thickest part. 

Firkin, or Bath (II Chronicles iv, 5). This was a Greek 
liquid measure, containing from seven to nine gallons. John 
ii, 6. Waterpots were large vats or urns, from which the 
water was poured or drawn into smaller vessels for washing 
the hands and feet (Luke xi, 38). These pots were never 
used to put wine in, but simply to hold water for various 
purposes of ablution. Milton beautifully described the mira- 
cle recorded here when he said, 

"The water saw its God, and blushed." 

Hand-breadth, or Palm. The breadth of a man's hand, 
four digits, or the breadth of the four fingers, about three or 
three and a half inches. I Kings vii, 26 ; Exodus xxv, 25 ; 
Ezekiel xl, 5. 



178 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

HiN (Exodus xxiv, 40, xxx, 24). A liquid measure of 
about one gallon and a quarter. 

Log. The smallest liquid measure, six egg-shells full, or 
nearly one pint. Leviticus xiv, 10. 

Mile (Matthew v, 41). A word formed from the Latin 
mille^ a thousand, for a Roman mile consisted of a thousand 
paces, each of which was equal to five English feet. The 
phrase, " Compel thee to go a mile," is supposed to refer to a 
Persian custom of obliging men to carry burdens or mes- 
sages from stage to stage. In order that the royal commands 
might be delivered with dispatch, Cyrus stationed horsemen 
at proper intervals on all the public highways ; one of these 
delivered the message to another, and intelligence was thus 
rapidly communicated. When the messenger set out the 
master of the horse furnished him with a single horse, and 
when that was weary he would dismount the first man 
he met and take his. There was no pardon for a traveler 
who refused his horse, nor for any other person who should 
deny him the best in his stable. The Jews were compelled 
by the Roman governors, or tetrarchs, to furnish horses, and 
themselves to accompany them. 

Pot (Mark vii, 4). A small measure holding about a pint 
and a half 

Reed, or Measuring Reed (Ezekiel xlii, 16-19; Revela- 
tion xxi, 15). A measure of length, from ten to eleven feet; 
so called because made of a reed. 

Sabbath-day's Journey (Acts i, 12). A mile, or as some 
writers tell us, seven-eighths of a mile. The term denoted 
the distance which Jewish tradition said any one might 
travel without a violation of the law. Exodus xvi, 29. It is 



PRECIOUS STONES OF THE SCRIPTURES. 179 

generally supposed that this distance extended first from the 
tabernacle to the remotest section of the camp, and afterward 
from the temple to the most distant parts of Jerusalem. 

Span (Lamentations ii, 20; I Samuel xvii, 4; Exodus 
xxviii, 16). A measure of length, which expresses the dis- 
tance across the hand from the extremity of the thumb to 
the point of the middle finger when they are stretched as far 
apart as possible — from nine to ten inches. 

Tenth-deal, or Tenth-part. A dry measure, usually 
understood to mean the tenth part of an ephah. Leviticus 
xxiii, 17. 

Agate. A common compound mineral of flint and vari- 
ous gems, so called from the river Achates, in Sicily. Exodus 
xxviii, 19, xxxix, 22. 

Amethyst. A kind of blue transparent quartz, sometimes 
purple or grayish ; supposed by the Greeks to have the power 
of driving away drunkenness, hence its Greek name : by the 
Hebrews, of procuring dreams (chelem, a dream). Revelation 
xxi, 20. 

Beryl, Tarshish Stone, or Chrysolith. Properly a 
gem of yellow-gold luster, sometimes verging to yellow-green. 
Exodus xxviii, 20, xxxix, 13; Canticles v, 14; Ezekiel i, 16, 
etc.; Revelation xxi, 20. 

Carbuncle (flashing as lightning). The word so trans- 
lated is rather the Oriental emerald, a beautiful green, of dif- 
ferent shades. Exodus xxviii, 17 ; Ezekiel xxviii, 13. 

Diamond (in YiQhxQw, yahalom and shemir). The first is 
the onyx, a kind of chalcedony, of various tints : when red, 



180 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

called sardonyx; reddish-gray, chalcedonyx; tawny, mem- 
phitdnyx. This gem, the onyx, was semi-transparent (like 
the human nail, hence its name), and was much used for 
cameos and seals. Exodus xxviii, i8; Ezekiel xxviii, i8. 
The second is found in Jeremiah xvii, i (also, Ezekiel iii, 9 ; 
Zechariah vii, 12; translated adamant), and probably means 
emery, an aluminous mineral, very hard, used for polishing 
glass. 

Emerald. Rather, carbuncle, under which name several 
brilliant red stones were included, especially the ruby, gar- 
net, etc. Exodus xxviii, 18; Ezekiel xxviii, 13. 

Jasper. An opaque gem of various tints, green, red and 
yellow. Exodus xxviii, 20; Ezekiel xxviii, 13; Revelation 
iv, 3, xxi, II, xviii, 19. 

LiGURE (hyacinth or jacinth). A transparent gem, orange- 
yellow-red, found in Ceylon and India. Exodus xxviii, 19; 
Revelation xxi, 20, ix, 17. 

Onyx. Probably the beryl or chrysoprase. Genesis ii, 
12; Revelation xxi, 20 (that is, a leek-green stone). Gener- 
ally transparent and a pale green color. Exodus xxv, 7; 
Ezekiel xxviii, 13. 

Sapphire. A transparent gem, generally sky-blue, and 
very hard; hence the floor of the throne of God in heaven 
is compared to it. Exodus xxiv, 10; Ezekiel i, 26; Revela- 
tion xxi, 19. The sapphire of the Greeks was our lapis lazuli^ 
the same color as the Scripture sapphire, but much softer. 

Sardius (Hebrew odem^ red stone), properly carnelian (a 
came). A flesh-colored gem, of the chalcedony family. It 
abounds in Arabia, and was found largely at Sardis, in Lydia. 
Exodus xxviii, 17; Ezekiel xxviii, 13; Revelation iv, 3, xxi, 28. 



STONES AND ROCKS OF SCRIPTURE. 181 

Topaz. A yellow gem, with red, gray or green tinge, 
found in southern Arabia, hence the topaz of Cush, an island 
of the Arabic gulf being called Topaz island. Job xxviii, 19 ; 
Exodus xxviii, 17; Ezekiel xxviii, 13; Revelation xxi, 29. 

The descriptions in Revelation, it will be noticed, are 
closely connected with those in Exodus and in Ezekiel. 

Alabaster, from the Coptic, the whitish stone of the 
moderns, is a kind of gypsum ; among the ancients the word 
was applied to a box made of a kind of onyx (Matthew xxvi, 
7 ; Mark xiv, 3 ; Luke vii, 37). Pliny states that it was much 
used for perfumery-boxes, as it still is in Egypt. 

Chalk-stone (Isaiah xxvii, 9). Lime-stone; the chief 
material of the hills of Syria and Palestine. It is hard and 
whitish, sometimes yellow or gray. 

Crystal (Ezekiel i, 22; Job xxviii, 18) means literally, in 
Hebrew and Greek, ice. A transparent glass-like stone of 
the flint family. Revelation iv, 6, xxii, i. 

Flint (Deuteronomy viii, 13, xxxii, 13; Psalm cxiv, 8; 
Isaiah 1, 7 ; Job xxviii, 9) ; translated also rock. The rocks 
in Sinai, to which, in Deuteronomy viii, the word is applied, 
are granite, porphyry and green-stone, and such rocks are no 
doubt intended. 

Lime, translated plaster in Deuteronomy xxvii, 24, is more 
properly gypsum, which was more suitable for the purpose 
named in this reference. Lime or gypsum was early used 
for plastering. Daniel v, 5. 

Marble (Hebrew shesh) is limestone of a close texture. 



182 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE, 

The name in Hebrew means whiteness, and this was proba- 
bly the common color. I Chronicles xxix, 2 ; Esther i, 6. It 
is very common in Arabia and Persia. Josephus states that 
the second temple was rebuilt by Herod with white marble, 
either from Arabia or possibly from the hills of Syria. 

Rock (Hebrew tsur) is the generic name. High, precip- 
itous rocks, fit for refuge, are called in Hebrew sela. Judges 
XV, 8, II ; I Samuel xiv, 4; Psalm xviii, 3. 

Stone. The Hebrew has distinct names for pebbles and 
gravel. 

Amber (Ezekiel i, 4 27, viii, 2). Composed of copper and 
gold. Electron, which is used by the Seventy to translate it, 
meant amber and also a similar composition. The corre- 
sponding Greek word is found in Revelation i, 15. "Fine 
shining brass." 

Antimony, or Stibium, occurs in the Hebrew, but is 
translated paint (namely, the eyes) literally, with antimony. 
II Kings ix, 30 ; Jeremiah iv, 30 ; Ezekiel xxiii, 40. The 
stones of Jerusalem are said to be set in stibium. "Fair 
colors." Isaiah liv, II. 

Copper, or Brass. The former word is derived from 
Cyprus, where it was largely found. Brass is copper mixed 
with zinc or tin. In early times this metal was generally 
used instead of iron. Wherever the word steel occurs in our 
version the original is brass. There is ample evidence from 
classic and Egyptian authorities that brass was extensively 
used, and it is said that the Egyptians had the art of tem- 
pering it. It was employed in making bows and arms of all 



METALS OF SCRIPTURE. 183 

kinds. The columns of the temple (I Kings vii, 13-21), the 
bath or sea in the priest's vestibule, the forks used in sacri- 
fice, and the mirrors, were all of this material. Exodus xxxviii, 
8; II Kings xxv, 13. The copper "shining like gold" (Ezra 
viii, 27) was probably a mixture of the two metals. 

Gold (in Hebrew, what is barely conceived, also what is 
strongly lustrous). The Jews obtained their gold chiefly 
from Sheba and Ophir, both in Arabia. I Kings ix, 28; Psalm 
xlv, 9. At present no gold is found there, but ancient writers 
affirm that it was formerly obtained there in large quantities. 
The places named in Daniel x, 5, and II Chronicles iii, 6, are 
not known. Beaten, or perhaps alloyed, gold is mentioned 
in I Kings x, 16, 17. Gold and silver were sometimes purified 
by fire (Proverbs xvii, 3), lead, antimony, salt, tin and brass 
being used for this purpose. Gold ornaments were early 
used. The first mention of gold money is in David's age (I 
Chronicles xxi, 25). 

Iron was largely found in Syria, even in the earliest 
times (Deuteronomy viii, 9). Instruments and tools were 
made of it (Numbers xxxv, 16; Deuteronomy xxvii, 5). Steel 
is called, in Jeremiah xv, 12, "northern iron." The tribe 
celebrated in ancient times for making it was called Chaly- 
bes, and resided near the Black Sea; hence the description 
in Jeremiah and its Greek name. 

Lead is first mentioned in Exodus xv, 10. Before quick- 
silver was known it was used to purify silver; hence several 
expressions (Jeremiah vi, 29; Ezekiel xxii, 18). In Amos vii, 
7, a weight of lead, or plummet, is mentioned. 

Silver (Hebrew kescph^ literally, as in Greek, white metal) 
is found native, and combined with sulphur and acids. It 



184 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

often lies in veins (Job xxviii, i), and was purified by lead 
and heat. Lead and silver combined is called silver dross, 
the separated silver, purified silver (Psalm xii, 6). It was 
brought, among other places, from Spain (Ezekiel xxvii, 12; 
Jeremiah x, 9). In very early times we find it in use (Gen- 
esis xxiii, 15, 16). Many utensils were made of it (Genesis 
xliv, 2 ; Exodus xii, 35 ; Numbers vii, 13, x, 2). The earliest 
mention of it as money is in Genesis xx, 16. 

Tin is first mentioned in Numbers xxxi, 22. Later the 
Tyrians imported it from Tarshish (Ezekiel xxvii, 12). A 
leveling instrument of tin is mentioned in Zechariah iv, 10. 
The word is also used for a refuse of lead and silver* 

Bitumen, or Asphalt, translated slime, is an earth-resin 
abounding in the neighborhood of the Dead Sea and else- 
where. It was used as cement (Genesis xi, 3), as it still is in 
Zante and some parts of the East. Pliny states that the 
Egyptians used it for making the papyrus boats of the Nile 
water-tight. 

Brimstone, or Sulphur. A mineral found in a natural 
state and obtained by art from pyrites and various rock 
formations. It is found in Palestine in both states. Genesis 
xix, 24, 25 ; Psalm xi, 6 ; Ezekiel xxxviii, 32 ; Isaiah xxx, 2>Z^ 
xxxiv, 9; Revelation xiv, 10. 

Naphtha is also found in Palestine, and is, with the fore- 
going, highly combustible. The word occurs only — or rather 
this earth-oil is mentioned only — in Theodosius' version of 
part of Daniel. 



EARTHS OF SCRIPTURE. 185 

Clay. An unctuous earth, used in making earthenware 
(Isaiah xxix, i6, xlv, 9; Jeremiah xviii, 4, 6), and when mixed 
with sand then called mud, for building (Job iv, 19); has also 
the meaning of clay in Isaiah xli, 25. 

Earth has three representatives in Hebrew: Eretz^ the 
earth, habitable and uninhabitable; adama, properly red 
earth, cultivable land, and sometimes the whole earth ; aphar^ 
dry earth or dust. There are also words for very fine dust 
(Deuteronomy xxviii, 14; Nahum i, 3), and a dust particle or 
atom (Isaiah xl, 15). Clods of earth have three names (Job 
vii, 5, xxxi, ZZ\ Joel i, 17. 

Nitre (soda). A mineral alkali (as borith^ Hebrew, trans- 
lated soap, is a vegetable alkali) found in a natural state in 
Egypt, etc. It occurs only in Jeremiah ii, 22, and in Prov- 
erbs XXV, 20. Vinegar (any acid) makes it emit a disagree- 
able odor and destroys its qualities, hence the last passage. 

Salt abounds in Palestine. The Dead Sea is strongly 
impregnated with it. The salt valley of II Samuel viii, 13, 
I Chronicles xviii, 12, and Psalm Ix, is a large plain still exist- 
ing southwest of the Dead Sea. The salt-pits of Zephaniah 
ii, 9, were probably such as are still dug in the borders of 
the Dead Sea, into which the water runs, and where a thick 
crust of salt is soon deposited. Figuratively, salt expresses 
permanence, friendship, payment or support; sterility; pure, 
salutary, healthy influence; preserving from decay. Hence 
a covenant of salt (II Chronicles xiii, 5). 

Sand abounds in Palestine, and is often used as a com- 
parison to express abundance, extensiveness, weight, etc. 



1^6 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

' A list of Bibles which, because of peculiar errors of the 
printers, or for some other reason, have been known by 
strange names : 

The Gutenberg Bible. The earliest book known print- 
ed from movable metal types is the Latin Bible issued by 
Gutenberg, at Mentz, a.d. 1450. 

The Bug Bible was so called from its rendering of Psalm 
xci, 5: "Afraid of bugs by night." Our present version reads, 
"terror by night." a.d. 155 i. 

The Breeches Bible. The Geneva version is that popu- 
larly known as the Breeches Bible, from its rendering of 
Genesis iii, 7 (making themselves breeches out of fig-leaves). 
This translation of the Scriptures — the result of the labors 
of the English exiles at Geneva — was the English family 
Bible during the reign of Queen Elizabeth and till sup- 
planted by the present authorized version of King James I. 

The Peacemaker's Bible. From a remarkable typo- 
graphical error which occurs in Matthew v, 9 : " Blessed are 
the placemakers," instead of peacemakers, a.d. 1562. 

The Treacle Bible. From its rendering of Jeremiah 
viii, 22: "Is there no treacle [instead of balm] in Gilead.**" 
a.d. 1568. 

The Rosin Bible. From the same text, but translated 
"rosin" in the Douai version, a.d. 1609. 

The He and She Bibles. From the respective render- 
ings of Ruth iii, 15, one reading that "she went into the 
city." The other has it that "he went." a.d. 161 i. 

The Wicked Bible. From the fact that the negative has 



TITLE PAGES OF AN OLD BIBLE. 187 

been left out of the seventh commandment (Exodus xx, 14). 
for which the printer was fined ^^300. a.d. 1631. 

The Thumb Bible. Being one inch square and half an 
inch thick; was published at Aberdeen, a.d. 1670. 

The Vinegar Bible. So named from the headline of 
the twentieth chapter of Luke, which reads as "The parable 
of the vinegar," instead of the vineyard, a.d. 17 17. 

The Printers' Bible. We are told by Cotton Mather 
that in a Bible printed prior to 1702 a blundering typogra- 
pher made King David exclaim that "Printers [instead of 
princes] persecuted him without a cause." See Psalm cxix, 
161. 

The Murderer's Bible. So called from an error in the 
sixteenth verse of the Epistle of Jude, the word "murderers" 
being used instead of murmurers. a.d. 1801. 

The Caxton Memorial Bible. Wholly printed and 
bound in twelve hours, but only one hundred copies struck 
off. A.D. 1877. 

Wx\\\ J^i%% u? Htt ©lit liW^. 

The frontispiece of the Old Testament is a representation 
of the Garden of Eden, with the tree of knowledge in the 
midst, and our parents one on either side. There are several 
couplets, such as: 

Desire to knowe 

Hath wrovght our woe. 

By tastinge this, 
Th' 'Exile of BHsse. 

By Promise made Restored we be, 
To pleasvres of Eternitye. 



188 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

With Psalms in verse, and set to music in appendix. Here 
are the titles: 

The Bible 
That is the Holy Scriptures contained in the Old and New 
Testament — Translated according to the Ebrew & Greeke. 
and conferred with the best translations, in divers languages 
With most profitable Annotations vpon the hard 
places and other things of great importance 

Imprinted at London by 

Robert Barker. Printer to the Kings 

Most excellent Maiestie 

— 1610 — 
Cum priuil-egio 

The 

New Testament of ovr Lord Iesvs 
Christ Translated out of Greeke 

BY Theod : Beza 

& Whereunto are adjoined brief 
summaries of doctrine upon the Evangelists and the Acts of 
the Apostles Together with the Methode of the Epistles of 
the Apostles by the saide Theod: Beza 

And also 
Short expositions, on the phrases and hard places taken out 
of the large Annotations of the foresaid Author and loach 
Came-ra-rius by P Lefeler Valerius. 

Endished bv L Tomson 

Imprinted at London by Robert Barker printer to the 
Kings Most Excellent Maiestie. 

— 1610 — 
Cum privilegio. 



OBSOLETE TERMS. 189 

Some of the expressions of our English version are obso- 
lete in the sense in which the translators used them. 
Anon. At once (Matthew xiii, 20). 
Amerce. A fine (Deuteronomy xxii, 19). 
All. Entirely (Judges ix, 53). 
Audience means the (act of) hearing (Luke vii, i). 
Breeches. Creeks running from the sea-shore (Judges v, 

17). 

Bruit. Report or fame (Nahum iii, 19). 

Calves. Sacrifices (Hosea xiv, 2). 

"Calves of our lips." Sacrifice of the lips; confession, 
thanksgiving, praise, etc. 

Carriage expressed what is now called baggage (I Samuel 
xvii, 22 ; Acts xxi, 15). 

Charger means a large dish (Matthew xiv, 3). 

Charity means love (II Corinthians xiii, 2). 

To comfort means to strengthen, as a helper, — to succor, 
and hence to encourage and cheer; so advocate meant one 
called in on an emergency. The first word is now confined 
to consoling the afiiicted, and the second is used in a re- 
stricted sense. In Scripture the idea is general — to strength- 
en, to guide, stimulate, aid, encourage (I Corinthians xiv, 31; 
I Thessalonians v, 11, 14, where it is rightly translated "ex- 
hort "; Romans xv, 4). 

Conversation. Behavior. 

Convince has, in old English, the sense of convict (John 
viii, 46). 

Cunning. Skillful. 



190 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

Damnation would be more correctly rendered "condem- 
nation" in I Corinthians xi, 29, so in Romans xiv, 23. 

Dispensation of the gospel means " stewardship " (I Cor- 
inthians ix, 17). 

To ear the ground is to till it (I Samuel viii, 12). 

Earing. Plowing or tilling (Exodus xxxiv, 21). 

Frankly or freely means gratuitously: "Freely ye have 
received: freely give." "He frankly forgave them both." 

God did tempt Abraham. This means tried (Genesis xxii, 

i). 

Harness, in Exodus xiii, 18, and I Kings xx, 11, denotes 
armor. The word in the original may also mean in files or 
rows. 

Heir often meant, in old English, heritor or possessor. 
" Heir of the righteousness by faith " is possessor of it (He- 
brews xi, 7). "So Christ was appointed heir or possessor of 
all things" (Hebrews i, 2). 

His is the old English form of its. 

Instant, instantly, means urgent ; closely applying oneself 
to business (Luke xxiii, 23 ; Acts xxvi, 7). 

Kine. Cows (Genesis xii, 2). 

Leasing means lying (Psalm iv, 2). 

To let means to hinder (Isaiah xliii, 13; II Thessalonians 
ii, 7 ; Romans i, i). 

Lewd means ignorant, untaught, idle, bad (Acts xvii, 5). 

Malice always means vice or wickedness generally; trans- 
lated "naughtiness" in James i, 21. 

Mortify means to kill, to put to death (Romans viii, 13; 
Colossians iii, 5). 

Mystery now means a doctrine or fact which is incom- 



OBSOLETE TERMS. 191 

prehensible, involving, often, the idea of apparent and to us 
irreconcilable contradiction. In Scripture it means a re- 
vealed secret; a truth not previously known (Romans xvi, 
25, 26; I Corinthians ii, 7-10; Ephesians xi, 9, vi, 19; Colos- 
sians i, 26, 27). It is also used in Ephesians v, 32, and in 
Revelation i, 20, xvii, 5, for a symbolical representation, a 
meaning not materially different, however, from the above. 
It signifies an emblem of revealed truth. 

Nephew is an old word for descendant (I Timothy v, 4). 

To offend means sometimes to give offense, but its an- 
cient meaning is to cause or give occasion to stumble, as in 
I John ii, 10; Matthew v, 29, It may often be translated 
"ensnare." 

Penny was originally any piece of silver money It is now 
confined to the largest English copper coin. The value of 
the Roman penny was nearly eightpence, or about fifteen 
cents of our currency (John vi, 7). Revelation vi, 6, where 
the sense is reversed by our present translation, "a measure 
of wheat for a penny," giving rather the idea of plenty than 
of want. 

Polled. Trimmed or cut off the hair (II Samuel xiv, 26). 

Prevent means to come before, or anticipate (Psalm cxix, 
148; Matthew xvii, 25 ; I Thessalonians iv, 15), or to surprise 
(II Samuel xxii, 6, 19). 

Purge is to cleanse, to clear away (John xv, 2) ; applied to 
pruning (Hebrews ix, 14). 

Quick means alive (II Timothy iv, i ; Ephesians ii, i ; 
Psalm cxxiv, 3). 

Room means place, as in Acts xxiv, 27 (Matthew xxiii, 6; 
Mark xii, 39; Luke xiv, 7, xx, 46). 



192 HAyn-BOOK of the bible. 

Scrabbled. Pawed (I Samuel xxi, 13). 

Sodden. Boiled (I Samuel ii, 15). 

To take thought means to be distracted or anxious (Mat- 
thew vi, 25). 

Tired. Dressed, ornamented. 

Vain is unreal, false, delusive, immoral, especially as con- 
nected with a groundless and idolatrous creed (Romans i, 
21; I Peter i, 18; Romans viii, 20; Ephesians). 

||isr{niil3ti0n$ frrrm Itriplnrt* 

"The merciful man is merciful to his beast." The Scrip- 
ture form, "A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast " 
(Proverbs xii, 10). 

*'A nation shall be born in a day." In Isaiah it reads, 
"Shall a nation be born at once.^ " (Isaiah Ixvi, 8). 

"As iron sharpeneth iron, so doth a man the countenance 
of his friend." "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth 
the countenance of his friend" (Proverbs xxvii, 17). 

"That he who runs may read." "That he may run that 
readeth " (Habakkuk ii> 2). 

"Owe no man an}1:hing but love." "Owe no man any- 
thing, but to love one another " (Romans xiii, 8). 

"Cleanliness akin to godliness." Not in the Bible. 

"Prone to sin as the sparks fly upward." "Born unto 
trouble as the sparks fly upward " (Job v, 7). 

"Exalted to heaven in the point of privilege." Not in the 
Bible. 

Eve was not Adam's help mate, but merely a help meet for 
him; nor was Absalom's long hair, of which he was so proud, 



DIVISIONS AND MARKS OF DISTINCTION. 193 

the instrument of his destruction ; his head, not the hair 
upon it, having been caught in the boughs of a tree (II 
Samuel xviii, 9). 

"Money is the root of all evil." St. Paul said (I Timothy 
vi, 10), "The love of money is the root of all evil." 

"In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread" (Genesis 
iii, 19). Commonly quoted brow. 

"God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb." From 
Sterne's Sentimental Journey to Italy. Compare Isaiah 
xxvii, 8. 

"In the midst of life we are in death." From the burial 
service, and this originally from a hymn of Luther. 

"Not to be wise above what is written." Not in Scripture. 

5mi$ttttt$ Htttr ||Hrfe$ ty\ J)i$lmdtttit tit 11^^ ^j:ri{tittr$$* 

The Scriptures are so termed as being the most important 
of all writings, and are also called holy or sacred because 
composed by holy or inspired men, and canonical either be- 
cause they are the rule of faith and practice or because they 
were received with the ecclesiastical canons or catalogues, 
and thus distinguished from those which were apocryphal, 
or of uncertain authority. 

The most common and general division of these sacred 
books is that of the Old and New Testaments, an appellation 
derived from II Corinthians iii, 6, 14, where the Greek words 
are rendered by the Latin translators, Antiquium Testamentum 
and Novum Testamentum^ and from them by our translators. 
The Old Testament and The New Testament would be 
more correctly rendered The Old Covenant and The New 
Covenant. 



i-i HAND-BOOK OF ZI-Z BIEL^. 

The c:^^s::-5of fheOIi Tts t : _f eilv 

obtain are (i) The Pentate:: : e - e : : ks of Moses; 

(2) The Historical bo: V. 5 : : . ; £ : i : : Z =ther, in- 

cl'zsive : ^^^ The Poet: '.:-'.. : : I ; i : : : = : : : ~ ""^cb to 

:ze :r::. ; :: Solomon, ir.:._5.t _^ _.:r r::^: .:t:.:i. : ;ok5, 
fr: z: Z i i:^ to MalachL 

The Nr- TrETizrnt IS Qsoalfy divided into (i) The 
ffistc: : : : iiing the Foot Gospels and the Airts; 

{2) Tite 1 : : : ::i. :? comprising all the EiKstles written 
by the ap : . : 1 5 7. m? to Jnde; (3) The Prophetical, 

being the : : t ? t r : : ion oS. St. John. 

7 - 1 '7-5 1: z- riri 7 e::: i :':r the sake <^ c<mTenience, 

number of Sabc3.:.."s m :J:e:r veiT. 



: , -X 1^ — x.::*-_. 



rirs nf iiiiL 



:/ / t :. : : : I 5 _ : : e : : r : : nois immediatetf ap- 

pci-:ti : ■ iV:i :■ :: \:.z ::.:'.z:zz ::' I^rieL 

.' — . / . : : : : 5 : 5 s : eri^ er execntionersu 

: /. "ft:::: :_.;:;. ;_:: :5 ie:tnijcie cxnlnivtasies in 



::i a/ Mc: ■: :.. : : - _ 5 : i e lite h j onginal 



A TABLE OF OFFICES. 195 

A Proselyte of the Covenant^ who was circumcised and sub- 
mitted to the whole law. 

A Proselyte of the Gate^ or Stranger^ who worshiped one 
God but remained uncircumcised. 

OFFICERS UNDER THE ASSYRIAN OR PERSIAN 

MONARCHS. 

Tirshatha^ or governor appointed by the kings of Assyria 
or Persia. 

Heads of the Captivity^ the chief of each tribe or family, 
who exercised a precarious government during the Captivity. 

OFFICERS UNDER THE GRECIAN MONARCHS. 

SUPERIOR OFFICERS. 

Maccabees^ the successors of Judas Maccabeus, high priests 
who presided with kingly power. 

OFFICERS UNDER THE ROMAN EMPERORS. 

Presidents^ or governors sent from Rome with imperial 
power. 

Tetrarchs, who had kingly power in four provinces. 
Proconsuls^ or deputies of provinces. 

INFERIOR OFFICERS. 

Publicans, or tax gatherers. 
Centurions, captains of a hundred men. 

ECCLESIASTICAL OFFICERS OR SECTS OF MEN. 

High Priests, who only might enter the holy of holies. 
Second Priests, or Sagan, who supplied the high priest's 
office in case he were disabled. 



196 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

High Priests for the War, set apart for the occasion of an 

expedition. 

Priests^ Levites of the sons of Aaron, divided into twenty- 
four ranks, each rank serving weekly in the temple. 

Levites, of the tribe of Levi, but not of Aaron's family; of 
these there v/ere three orders, Gershonites, Kohathites, Me- 
rarites, several sons of Levi. 

JVethini?ns, inferior servants to the priests and Levites (not 
of their tribe) to draw water and cleave wood, etc. 

Prophets, anciently called seers, who foretold future events 
and denounced God's judgments. 

Children of the Prophets, their disciples or scholars. 

Wise?nen, called so in imitation of the eastern Magi, or 
Gentile philosophers. 

Scribes, writers and expounders of the law. 

Disputers, that raised and determined questions out of the 
law. 

Rahbis, or Doctors, teachers of Israel. 

Libertines, freedmen of Rome, who, being Jews or pros- 
elytes, had a synagogue or oratory for themselves. 

Gaulonites, or Galileans, who pretended it unlawful to 
obey a heathen magistrate. 

Herodians, who shaped their religion to the times and 
particularly flattered Herod. 

Epicureans, who placed all happiness in pleasure. 

Stoics, who denied the liberty of the will, and pretended 
all events were determined by fatal necessity. 

Simon Magus, author of the heresy of the gnostics, who 
taught that men, however vicious their practice was, should 
be saved by their knowledge. 



HEBREW MODES OF COMPUTING TIME, 19^ 

Nicolaitans^ the disciples of Nicolas, one of the first seven 
deacons, who taught the community of wives. 

Nazarites^ who, under a vow, abstained from wine, etc. 

Nazarenes^ Jews professing Christianity. 

Zelots^ Sicarti, or murderers, who, under pretense of the 
law, thought themselves authorized to commit any outrage. 

Pharisees, separtists who, upon the opinion of their own 
godliness, despised all others. 

SadduceeSj who denied the resurrection of the dead, angels 
and spirits. 

Samaritans^ mongrel professors, partly heathen and partly 
Jews, the offspring of the Assyrians sent to Samaria. 

Apostles, missionaries or persons sent; they who were sent 
by our Saviour from their number were called The Twelve. 

Bishops^ successors of the apostles in the government of 
the church. 

Deacons, officers chosen by the apostles to take care of 
the poor. 

The Hebrews, in common with other nations, distinguished 
their days into natural, containing day and night, and artifi- 
cial, from sunrise to sunset. 

They reckoned their natural days from sunset to sunset, 
according to the original plan : the evening and the morning 
were the first day (Genesis i, 5). 

The artificial day, which began at sunrise and ended at 
sunset, consequently varied in its length according to the 
season of the year, though Canaan being situated near to the 



19S HAXD-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

equator, the difference was not great, the longest day being 
only fourteen hours and twelve minutes of our time, and the 
shortest nine hours and forty-eight seconds. 

The day was divided into twelve hours, which were equal 
with respect to each other, but consequently unequal with 
respect to the different seasons of the year. These hours 
were computed from about six in the morning to six in the 
evening, the first hour corresponding to our seven o'clock, 
the second to our eight, the third to our nine, etc. 

The night among the Hebrews was anciently divided into 
three parts, or watches (Psalms Ixiii, 6, xc, 4), though the 
division of it into twelve hours, like those of the day, also 
afterward obtained. The first was called the beginning of 
the watches (Lamentations ii, 19), the second the middle 
watch (Judges vii, 19), and the third the morning watch (Ex- 
odus xiv, 24). 

Subsequently, in the time of our Sa\'iour, the night was 
divided into four watches, a fourth ha%dng been introduced 
by the Romans, who derived it from the Greeks. The first 
watch commenced about six and continued till nine; the 
second (Luke xii, 38) began at nine and ended at twelve; 
the third lasted from twelve to three, and the fourth (Mat- 
thew xiv, 25) began at three and closed at six. 

All these are distinctly mentioned in Matthew xiii, 35. 

Seven natural days constituted a week. This division of 
time appears to have been observed by all nations, probably 
from the beginning of the world, and it originated with God 
himself, who, after he had created the world in six days, 
rested on the seventh, or Sabbath, and blessed and sanctified 
it. 



HEBREW MODES OF COMPUTING TIME. 199 

It does not appear that the Hebrews had any names for 
the days of the week, but they numbered them in their order, 
the first, the second, etc., the seventh, or last day of the week 
being the Sabbath. 

It is to be observed that the general adoption of the di- 
vision of time into weeks, which has extended from the 
christian states of Europe to the remote shores of Hin- 
dostan, had equally prevailed among the Hebrews, the 
Egyptians, Chinese, Greeks, Romans, and even the northern 
barbarians — nations some of whom had little or no inter- 
course with others, and were not even known by name to 
the Hebrews. Now there is a great difference between the 
concurrence of nations in the division of time into weeks 
and their concurrence in the other periodical divisions into 
years, months and days. These divisions arise from those 
natural causes which are everywhere obvious, namely, the 
annual and diurnal revolutions of the earth and the changes 
of the moon; but many biblical scholars assert that the 
division into weeks does not rest on any such manifest data 
— it seems to be purely arbitrary, resting on the authority of 
a law-giver and not on the observance of natural phenomena. 

The Mosaic method of reckoning by nights, instead of 
days, has prevailed among the Athenians, who counted their 
days from sunset to sunset, and also among some, if not all, 
of the Gothic and Celtic tribes. 

The months of the Hebrews, which were lunar ones, took 
their name from the moon, because their months began with 
the new moon. As the synodical lunar month is about 
twenty-nine and a half days, they made their month consist 
alternately of twenty-nine and thirty days, according as the 



200 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE, 

new moon appeared sooner or later, and by this means their 
months were made to keep pace nearly with the lunations. 

In this manner the Jewish calendar was regulated by the 
law of Moses, which appointed the day of the new moon, or 
rather the first day of its appearance, to be a solemn festival 
and the beginning of the month. But it appears that in the 
time of Noah the year consisted of twelve months, each of 
thirty days, for in the account of the deluge one hundred 
and fifty days are mentioned as equivalent to five months 
(Genesis vii, ii, 24, viii, 3, 4, 13, 15). 

From these passages it appears the months originally had 
no particular names, but were called the first, second, third, 
etc. Afterward, however, they acquired distinct names, as 
Abib (Exodus xiii, 4), Zif (I Kings vi, i, 37), Ethanim (I 
Kings viii, 2), and Bui (I Kings vi, 38). 

These names, after the Babylonian captivity, were ex- 
changed for others of Chaldean, Syrian or Persian origin; 
thus Abib was termed Nisan ; Zif, lyar, etc. 

See article on "The Hebrew Months," page 86. 

The Jewish year consisted of twelve lunar months, 
amounting to three hundred and fifty-four days, but as this 
falls eleven days short of the solar year of three hundred 
and sixty-five days, it would have produced an entire change 
in the seasons, and with it a total derangement of the fasts 
and festivals. 

In order to remedy this inconvenience they added a 
whole month to the year as often as it was necessary, com- 
monly once in three years and sometimes once in two years. 
The intercalary month was added at the end of the ecclesi- 
astical year, after the month Adar, and was therefore called 



TEN EXPRESSIVE NAMES. 201 

Ve-Adar — "and Adar," or a second Adar. At first the Jews 
began the year with the autumnal equinox, or the month 
Tisri, because it was believed the world was created at that 
time, and from it they continued to compute their jubilees 
and to date contracts and other common occurrences, whence 
it was termed the civil year. But after their departure from 
Egypt, which happened in the month Abib, or Nisan, in 
commemoration of this deliverance they began their year 
from the beginning of that month, which usually happened 
about the time of the vernal equinox, and according to this 
form, which was termed the sacred or ecclesiastical year, 
they celebrated the fasts and festivals and other ecclesiasti- 
cal matters. 

The Jewish year being composed of months purely lunar, 
and the intercalations being made of one whole lunar month 
at once, the commencement of their months cannot be fixed 
to any certain day in the Julian calendar, but they fall with- 
in the compass of thirty days, sooner or later. 

Adam means man. 

Seth means placed. 

Enos means mortal. 

Cainan means miserable. 

Mahalaleel means the blessed God. 

Jared means shall descend 

Enoch means teaching. 

Methuselah means He who died shall send. 

Lamech means to the afflicted. 

Noah means rest or consolation. 



202 



HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 



ydndpitl Jmix\% Jtt ^\ |[if^ t\ |l ^Httl 



A.D. 



EVENT. REFERENCE. 

Paul's conversion, in the twenty-first year of 

the reign of Tiberius Acts ix 36 

He goes into Arabia and returns to Damascus , Galatians i, 17 39 

He escapes from Damascus and goes to Jeru- 
salem Acts ix, 29 



ix, 30; Gal. i, 21 



39 

45 



XI, 30. 



xm, XIV. 



•45 
.45 



xiv, 28, XV, 2. . .52 



XV, 40, xviii, 2. .54 



From Jerusalem he goes to Cilicia and Syria 
From Antioch he is sent with Barnabas to 

J erusalem to carry alms " 

The first missionary journey of Paul and 

Barnabas continued about two years " 

After spending several years in Antioch Paul 

and Barnabas are sent a second time to 

Jerusalem to consult the apostles respecting 

circumcision " 

The Jews expelled from Rome, a.d. 52, 54; 

Paul on his second missionary journey; 

after passing through Asia Minor to Europe 

finds Aquila and Priscilla at Corinth " 

He remains eighteen months in Corinth; 

after being brought before Galileo he de- 
parts for Jerusalem the fourth time and 

then goes to Antioch " 

The apostle winters at Nicopolis and then 

goes to Ephesvis Tit. iii, 12 ; Acts xix, i . 57 

After a residence of two years or more at 

Ephesus he departs for Macedonia Acts xx, i 59 

He winters at Achaia and then goes the fifth 

time to Jerusalem, where he is imprisoned. '* xxi, xxii 60 

The apostle remains two years in prison at 

Cesarea and is then sent to Rome ; he win- 
ters in Malta " xxiv, 27, xxv. . .62 

He arrives in Rome in the spring " xxviii 63 

History of Paul in the Acts concluded, when 

it is supposed he was set at liberty 65 

Probable martyrdom 



xvm, II, 22, 



56 



JEWISH DOCTRINES AND OPINIONS. 203 



According to Maimonides there are thirteen articles which 
form the foundation of the Jewish faith, which he presents in 
the form of a creed, to be repeated in the first person singu- 
lar, after the manner of the apostles' creed : 

1. I believe with a perfect faith that the Creator (blessed 
be His name) has made and governs all creatures; that He 
alone has made, does make and will make all things. 

2. I believe with a perfect faith that the Creator (blessed 
be His name) is only one in unity, to which there is no re- 
semblance, and that He alone has been, is, and will be our 
God. 

3. I believe with a perfect faith that the Creator (blessed 
be His holy name) is not corporeal, nor to be comprehended 
by an understanding capable of comprehending what is cor- 
poreal, and that there is nothing like Him in the universe. 

4. I believe with a perfect faith that the Creator (blessed 
be His name) is the first and the last. 

5. I believe with a perfect faith that the Creator (blessed 
be His name) is the only object of adoration, and that no 
other being whatever ought to be worshiped. 

6. I believe with a perfect faith that all the words of the 
prophets are true. 

7. I believe with a perfect faith that the prophecies of 
Moses our master (may he rest in peace) are true, and that 
he is the father of all the wise men, as well of those who 
went before him as of those who have succeeded him. 

8. I believe with a perfect faith that the whole law which 



204 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

we have in our hands at this day was delivered by Moses our 
master (may he rest in peace). 

9. I believe with a perfect faith that this law will never 
be changed, and that no other law will ever be given by the 
Creator (blessed be His name). 

10. I believe with a perfect faith that the Creator (blessed 
be His name) knows all the actions of men and all their 
thoughts. 

11. I believe with a perfect faith that the Creator (blessed 
be His name) rewards those who observe his commands and 
punishes those who transgress them. 

12. I believe with a perfect faith that the Messiah will 
come, and though He delays nevertheless I will always ex- 
pect Him till He come. 

13. I believe with a perfect faith that the dead will be 
restored to life when it shall be so ordained by the decree of 
the Creator, blessed be His name and exalted be His re- 
membrance for ever and ever. 

The Jews say, also, that the law which God gave to Noah 
consisted of seven precepts, namely: i. Not to commit idol- 
atry. 2. Not to blaspheme the name of God. 3. To consti- 
tute upright judges for the impartial administration to all 
persons. 4. Not to commit acts of impurity. 5. Not to 
commit murder. 6. Not to rob or steal. 7. Not to eat a 
member of any living creature. 



FACTS RESPECTING THE BIBLE. 205 

Of the languages and dialects now spoken, which number 
about three hundred, the Bible has been translated into 
about two hundred and sixty of them. 

The word Bible, from the Greek word Biblos^ is a book 
by way of preeminence, book of books, the divine volume, 
the Scriptures. 

It is called Scriptures from the Latin word Scriptural 
which means writing. 

The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, and the New 
Testament in Greek, with the exception of the Gospel ac- 
cording to St. Matthew, which was also written in Hebrew. 

The divisions of the Old Testament are four: 

1. The Pentateuch, or the five books of Moses. 

2. The historical books, comprising Joshua to Esther, 
inclusive. 

3. Poetical or doctrinal books, from Job to Song of Solo- 
mon, inclusive. 

4. Prophetical books, from Isaiah to Malachi, inclusive. 
The New Testament is usually divided into three parts : 

1. Historical, containing the Four Gospels and the Acts. 

2. Doctrinal, comprising all the Epistles, from Romans 
to Jude. 

3. Prophetical, being the book of the Revelation of St. 
John. 

The Old Testament was translated into Greek B.C. 285, 
and is called the Septuagint. 

The Bible was translated into Latin by St. Jerome, a.d. 
384, and called the Vulgate, meaning common. 



206 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

Peter Waldo translated the Bible into French for the 
Waldenses, a.d. ii6o. 

By order of Alphonsus, King of Castile, the Bible was 
translated into Spanish, a.d. 1280. 

The Bible was translated into German in 1460. 

Luther made a new translation of the Bible in 1522. 

The Venerable Bede commenced the translation of the 
Bible in England in 785. 

King Alfred continued the work in 900. 

Wickliffe completed it in 1380. 

In 1250 the Bible was valued at §164 of our currency. 

The first American Indian Bible was made by Elliott, a 
missionary, in 1663. 

King James' Bible was translated (1609-11) by forty-seven 
Episcopal bishops and other clergy, the most eminent divines 
of the times. 

The Douay version was translated from the Latin Vul- 
gate by four professors of theology in the English college of 
Douay, 1709. 

The first American Bible was printed in Boston in 1752. 

The second issue of it was printed by order of congress 
in 1781. 

The first use to which printing was applied was the pro- 
duction of the Bible at Mentz, Germany, 1450-55. This 
Bible was in tw^o folio volumes, remarkable for strength and 
beauty, and contained twelve hundred and eighty-two pages. 
Eighteen copies are now in existence. 

The oldest copy of the Bible in America is in the Latin 
language, and came from the Greek convent of St. Catharine, 
Mount Sinai. The date is a.d. 930. It is made of vellum 



FACTS RESPECTING THE BIBLE. 207 

and the printing was done by hand with pen and ink, and is 
probably the work of the ancient monk scribes in the above 
named convent. It was thus made 560 years before the 
invention of printing, and at the present year is 951 years 
old. It belongs to the Rev. Dr. Duffield, of Detroit, Michi- 
gan. 

The most ancient bound volume of the Old Testament 
in the world is to be found at Nablus, Samaria. It was 
written B.C. 263, and is made very strong by means of 
wooden frame and cords, and is guarded with jealous care. 

The first division of the divine orders into chapters and 
verses is attributed to Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Can- 
terbury, in the reign of King John, in the latter part of the 
twelfth century or the beginning of the thirteenth. Cardinal 
Hugo, in the middle of the thirteenth century, divided the 
Old Testament into chapters as they stand in our transla- 
tion. In 1 66 1 Athias, a Jew of Amsterdam, divided the 
sections of Hugo into verses. A French printer had pre- 
viously (156 1) divided the New Testament into verses as 
they are at present. 

The Old Testament contains 39 books, 929 chapters, 
23,214 verses, 592,439 words, 2,738,100 letters. 

The New Testament contains 27 books, 260 chapters, 
7,950 verses, 182,253 words, 933,380 letters. 

The entire Bible contains dd books, i,i88 chapters, 31,185 
verses, 774,692 words, 3,566,480 letters. 

The name of Jehovah, or Lord, occurs 6,855 times in 
the Old Testament. 

The word "and" occurs in the Old Testament 35,543 
times. 



208 HAND-BOOK OF THE BIBLE. 

The middle book of the Old Testament is Proverbs. 

The middle chapter is Job xxix. 

The middle verse is II Chronicles xx, 17. 

The middle book of the New Testament is II Thessalon- 
ians. 

The middle chapters are Romans xiii and xiv. 

The middle verse is Acts xi, 7. 

The middle chapter and the least in the Bible is Psalm 
cxviL 

The middle verse in the Bible is Psalm cxviii, 8. 

The middle line in the Bible is II Chronicles i, 16. 

The least verse in the Old Testament is I Chronicles i, i. 

The least verse in the Bible is John xi, 35. 

II Kings xix and Isaiah xxxvi are the same. 

In Ezra xxi, 7, are all the letters of the alphabet, J and I 
being considered as one. 

The Apocrypha (not inspired, but sometimes bound be- 
tween the Old Testament and the New) contains 14 books, 
183 chapters, 15,081 verses, 152,185 words. 

There is a Bible in the library of the University of Gott- 
ingen written on 5,476 palm leaves. 



HOLY WEEK. 



The Events of the Last Week of Our Saviour's Life. 



PLACE. 

Bethany, 
a village two miles 
from Jerusalem. 



SATURDAY EVENING 

TIME. 

Evening. 



EVENT. 

Supper at Simon's House : Lazarus 

present, 
Mary breaks alabaster box and 

anoints Jesus' feet. 
The covetousness of Judas foiled. 



SUNDAY. {Palm Sunday.) 



Road from Bethany to 


Early Morning. 


Christ's Triumphal Entry into Jeru- 


Jerusalem over Mt. 




salem. 


of Olives. 




Starts from Bethany accompanied by 

multitude. 
Sends disciples ahead to Bethphage 

for ass and colt. 
Multitudes come from Jerusalem to 

meet Him. 
All shout Hosanna and strew palm 

branches in the way — St. Matt., 

St. Mark, St. Luke, St. John. 


Slope of Mt. of Olives. 


Noon. 


Jesus weeps over Jerusalem. 


Temple. 




Jesus teaches in Temple all day. 


Bethany. 


Evening. 


Returns at night to Bethany. 



209 



210 



HOL V WEEK. 



PLACE. 

Road from Bethany. 
Temple. 



Bethany. 
Road from Bethany. 



Temple. 



MONDAY. 
TIME. 



Morning. 



Evening. 



EVENT. 

Jesus curses the barren fig tree. 
Casts out buyers and sellers firom the 

Temple. 
'■''My House shall be called the 

House of Prayer r 
Teaches in Temple all day. 
Returns at night to Bethany. 



TUESDAY. 



Morning. 



The fig tree withered away. 

Deputation from Sanhedrim await- 
ing Him in Temple. 

'•''By what authority doestThou these 
things?'' 

The reply of Christ. 

Parable of the " Two Sons." 

Parable of the " Wicked Husband- 
men.''' 

Parable of the " Wedding Garment.'^ 

His enemies combine together to 
entrap Him. 

Herodians' Question about ^^ Trib- 
ute." 

Sadducees' Question about " The 
Resurrection." 

Pharisees' Question about " Great 
Commandment^ ' 

Our Lord's Question about ^'•Two 
Natures of Christ." 

The widow casts her two mites into 
the Treasvuy. 

Jesus takes final leave of the Tem- 
ple. 



HOL V WEEK. 



211 



PLACE. 
Slope of Mt. of Olives. 



Road to Bethany. 



TIME. 



Evening. 



EVENT. 

Disciples' exclamation, ^^ See what 

stones are here 1''^ 
Prophecy of Destruction of Jerusa- 
lem. 
Parable of the "7>« Virgins^ 
Parable of the '■^Ten Talents T 
Returns at night to Bethany. 



Bethany. 



WEDNESDAY. 

Jesus spends the day in retirement 

with the Apostles. 
Foretells His Crucifixion. 
Council of Sanhedrim at palace of 

Caiaphas to take Jesus by subtlety 

and kill him. 
Judas goes to Jerusalem and agrees 

with the chief priests to betray 

Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. 



Bethany. 



THURSDAY. 

Forenoon. 



Jerusalem. 
In the upper room. 



Evening. 



{Maundy Thursday^ 

Jesus spends greater part of the day 
in retirement. 

Peter and John sent to Jerusalem to 
prepare for the Passover. 

Jesus proceeds to Jerusalem towards 
evening. 

The Passover Feast with the 
Twelve. 

Ambitious contention among^ disci- 
ples. 

Jesus gives a lesson on humility by 
washing disciples' feet. 

Jesus foretells His betrayal. 



212 



HOL Y WEEK. 



PLACE. 
In the upper room. 



Gethsemane. 



Jerusalem. 
Palace of High Priest. 



TIME. 

Evening. 



Night. 



Midnight. 



Pligh Priest's Palace. 
Council Hall. 



FRIDAY. 

Bet. 12 & 3 A.M 
Very Early. 



EVENT. 

The sop given to Judas who goes out 
to prepare for the betrayal. 

Jesus gives to the Apostles the ^^New 
Commandment P " That ye love 
one another as I have loved youP 

Institutes the Lord's Supper. 

Foretells Peter's denial. 

Consoles His disciples with the dis- 
coiurse — " Let not your hearts be 
troubled^'' and ^^ I am the VineP 

Christ's Sacrificial Prayer. — St. 
John XVII. 

They sing a hymn ; 2d part of the 
''Halleir Ps. 115-118. 

Jesus crosses brook Kedron to gar- 
den of Gethsemane. 

Christ's Agony and Bloody Sweat. 

Judas accompanied by a band with 
torches and weapons, betrays Him 
with a kiss. 

Peter's resistance. 

Jesus' submission. 

The disciples' flight. 

Jesus brought before Annas.^ 

Jesus brought before Caiaphas. 

Peter and John follow and enter the 
outer court. 

Peter's first denial. 



{Good Friday^ 

Peter denies Jesus 2d and 3d time. 
Jesus condemned by Sanhedrim. 
Judas' remorse. 



HOLY WEEK. 



213 



PLACE. 

Pilate's Tribunal. 
Herod's Tribunal. 
Pilate's Tribunal. 



On the way to Calvary. 

On Calvary. 
On the Cross. 



The Sepulchre. 



TIME. 
Bet. 6 & 9 A.M. 



Before 9 A.M. 
9 A.M. 
9 to 3. 

12 to 3. 
3 P.M. 



Before 6 P.M. 



6 P.M. 



EVENT. 

Jesus before Pontius Pilate. 

Sent before Herod and mocked. 

Sent back to Pilate. 

Pilate seeks to release him. 

Pilate warned by his wife. 

Pilate delivers Jesus to be scourged. 

The Jews not satisfied. 

Pilate releases Barabbas, 

Pilate delivers Jesus to the mob. 

Jesus mocked, struck, spitted on. 

Jesus hurried on towards Calvary. 

The women bewail Him. 

Christ Crucified, at time of 

Morning Sacrifice. 
Jesus' prayer for His murderers. 
Soldiers cast lots for His garments. 
Jesus reviled on the Cross. 
Miraculous Darkness. 
The repentant thief forgiven. 
Christ's Mother committed to St. 

John. 
Christ Dies, at time of Evening 

Sacrifice. 
Earthquake and Veil of Temple rent 

in twain. 
Jesus' Body pierced by a spear. 
Joseph of Arimathea obtains leave 

to bury the Body. 
The Body taken from the Cross 

and buried by Joseph and Nico- 

demas. 
The first day of Christ's burial. 
The women observe the place. 



214 


HOL Y WEEK. 


PLACE. 


TIME. 


EVENT. 


The Sepulchre. 


6 P.M. 


Hasten to buy spices before the 

Sabbath. 
The two Marys last at the Sepulchre. 


SATURDAY. 


{Easter Even.) 


The Sepulchre. 




Second day of Jesus' burial. Sab- 
batum Magnum. 


Jerusalem. 




Chief Priests and Pharisees appoint 

a guard. 
Sepulchre sealed and a watch set. 




Evening. 


The two Marys and Salome engage 
in preparing spices to anoint the 
Body. 




END OF HOLY WEEK. 



SUNDAY. {Easter) 

Christ's Resurrection. 



The Sepulchre. 



Very Early in 
the Morning. 



A great earthquake. 

An angel descends from heaven and 

rolls away the stone. 
Christ rises from the dead, the 

keepers flying in terror. 
The women come and find the 

Sepulchre empty. 
Mary Magdalene hastens back to the 

Apostles. The others remaining. 
They see the angels and depart. 
Peter and John run to the Sepulchre. 
Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene. 
Jesus meets the other women and 

says ^'All hail.'" 
Jesus appears to St. Peter. 



HOL Y WEEK. 



215 



PLACE. 

Road from Jerusalem 
to Emmaus, a vil- 
lage 8 miles distant. 

Room in Jerusalem. 



TIME. 

Evening. 

Late in the 

Evening. 



EVENT. 

Jesus walks with the two disciples 
and is made known to them " in 
the Breaking of Bread P 

Jesus appears to the ten Apostles (St. 
Thomas being absent) and shows 
them His hands and His feet. 



INDBX. 



A. 

PAGE. 

Ab, month 86 

Abib, month 86, 200 

Abilene 125 

Acra, mount 98 

Acts, chronology of book of 1 17 

Adam, meaning of 201 

Adar, month 86 

Adhelm, Saxon gospels by 41 

Aenon 128 

Agate 179 

Alabaster 181 

Alexander the Great 94 

Alfred, King, version of Psalms by 41 

Allegory 28 

All Saints' Day, symbol of 175 

Alterations of Bible, impossible 21 

Amber 182 

Amethyst 179 

Symbolism of 179 

Amharic, version 53 

Andrew, death of 150 

Symbol of 156 

Anglo-Saxon, Lord's Prayer in 151 

Version 41 

Annunciation, symbol of. 175 

Antimony 182 

Antiochus Epiphanes 97 

Antipater loi 

217 



218 INDEX. 

PAGE. 

Antiquity of the Bible i 12 

Apelles 99 

Apocrypha . 73, 208 

Aquila, Greek translation of O. T. by 39 

Arabia 63 

Arimathea 125 

Ascension Day, symbol of 175 

Asia Minor 63 

Asphalt 184 

Assyria 63 

Authenticity of the Bible 17 

Authority of the O. T 61 

B. 

Baptism, of Jesus I06 

Symbol of 156 

Barnabas, death of 1 50 

Bartholomew, death of 150 

Symbol of. 156, 175 

Basque version 54 

Bath 176 

Beryl 179 

Bethabara 125 

Bethany 125 

Bethesda 126 

Bethlehem 126 

Bethphage 1 26 

Bethsaida 126 

Beza, translation by 41 

Bible, alterations of, impossible 21 

Antiquity of 12 

Authenticity of. 1 7 

Beza's translation of 41 

Bishop's 45 

Chronology of 55 



INDEX. 219 

PAGE. 

Bible, Coverdale's translation of 44 

Cranmer's Great 45 

Curious editions of. 186 

Curious questions on 158 

Derivation of word 1 1 

Design of 16 

Divisions of 13, 193 

Douay 48 

Earths and minerals of 184 

Editions of the Hebrew 36 

English editions of 41, 45, 186 

Excellency of. 14 

First English 41 

First printed Hebrew 36 

Facts respecting the 205 

Figurative language of 25 

King James' 46 

Middle chapter, etc 208 

Obsolete terms in the 189 

Oldest bound volume of 207 

Oldest copy of, in America. 206 

Punctuation of the 29 

Questions on, curious 158 

Rocks and stones of the 181 

Title of the II 

Translations of the 38, 205 

Tyndale's translation of the 42 

Versions of the 36 

Vulgate 40 

Biography of N. T. writers 145 

Birth of Jesus 106 

Bishops 197 

Bible 45 

Bitumen 184 

Bohemian version 53 



220 INDEX. 

PAGB. 

Book of the Covenant, missing 33 

Of the Wars of the Lord, missing 33 

Books, alleged missing 33 

Of O. T., chronological order of 65 

Of N. T., authors of. 109 

Of N, T., chronological order of 109 

Of N. T., for whom written 109 

Box 157 

Brass, or Copper 182 

Breeches Bible 46, 186 

Brimstone 184 

Bug Bible 186 

Bui, month 86, 200 

Bushel 176 

C. 

Cab 176 

Cainan 201 

Cana of Galilee 127 

Canaan 63 

Canon, meaning of word 23 

Of O. T., formation of. 67 

Of Pentateuch 68 

Canonical Scriptures 23 

Capernaum 1 27 

Carbuncle 179 

Symbolism of 174 

Caxton Memorial Bible 187 

Cedron 131 

Centurions 195 

Cesarea Philippi 127 

Chaldea 63 

Chaldee language 25, 61 

Chalk-stone 181 

Children of the Prophets 1 96 



INDEX. 221 

PAGH. 

Chisleu, month 86 

Chorazin 128 

Christ, ancient portrait of 173 

Birth and baptism of, 106 

Discourses of. 113 

Ministry of 106 

Miracles of Ill 

Names and Titles of 114 

Parables of 112 

Pilate's death sentence of 121 

Resurrection of 122 

Christmas, plants for I57» ^75 

Chronology of the Book of Acts 117 

Of Book of Psalms 79 

Of books of O. T 65 

Of books of N. T 109 

Of the Bible 55 

Of the N. T 106 

Index to Bible 55 

Of miracles of Christ Ill 

Of discourses of Christ '. 113 

Of parables of Christ 112 

Of prophetical books of O. T 65 

Chrysolith 179 

Circumcision, symbol of the Feast of 175 

Clay 185 

Conversion of St. Paul, symbol of the Feast of. 1 75 

Copper, or brass 182 

Cor 176 

Covenant, missing Book of the 33 

Of salt 185 

Coverdale, translation of the Bible 44 

Cranmer, Great Bible of 45 

Creed of the Jews 203 

Croatian version 54 



222 INDEX. 

FAGB. 

Crucifixion 119 

Crystal l8l 

Cubit 176 

Curious Bible questions 158 

D. 

Dalmanutha 128 

Deacons 197 

Design of the Bible 16 

Diamond 179 

Symbolism of 174 

Discourses of Christ 1 13 

Disputers 196 

Division of time 197 

Divisions of the Bible 13, 193 

Doctors 196 

Doctrinal books of O. T 194 

Books of N. T 194 

Douay Bible 48, 206 

E. 

Earth 185 

Earths and minerals of the Bible 184 

Easter, flowers for 157, 175 

Easter Eve, symbol of. 175 

Ecclesiastical officers I95 

Eden 63 

Editions, of the Hebrew Bible 36 

First American 54> 206 

Egypt 63, 96, 98 

Elders 194 

Elul, month 86, 88 

Emerald 180 

Symbolism of 1 74 

Emmaus 128 



INDEX. 223 

PAGE. 

English, early, Lord's Prayer in 151 

Enoch, meaning of 201 

Missing book of 36 

Enos 201 

Epicureans 196 

Ephah 177 

Epiphany, symbol of 175 

Epistles, chronology of 117 

Ephraim 128 

Erasmus, translation by 40 

Ethanim, month 86, 88, 200 

Euthalius 30 

Events in our Lord's life, table of 136 

Excellency of the Bible 14 

F. 

Fables, parabolic in O. T 77 

Facts respecting the Bible 205 

Fathom 177 

Feast days, emblematic flowers of 175 

First line of each Psalm, index of. , 81 

Finger-breadth 177 

Firkin 77 

Flemish version 54 

Fleur-de-lis 156 

Flint 181 

Floral emblems 156 

French version , 51 

G. 

Gadara 128 

Gad the Seer, missing books of 33 

Galileans 196 

Galilee 129 

Sea of 129 



224 INDEX. 

PAGE. 

Gaulonites 196 

Gehenna 130 

Genealogy from Adam to Jacob 66 

Gentile countries and nations in O. T 84 

Ccmiti-ies and nations in N. T 145 

Geography of the O. T 62 

Of the Gospels 125 

Georgian version 53 

Gergesenes, coimtry of. X28 

German version 51 

Gethsemane 130 

God, name of, in forty-eight languages 154 

Gold 183 

Good Friday 107 

Gospel, meaning of term 103 

Greek of the N. T 104 

Modem, version 54 

Gutenberg Bible 186 

H. 

Hand-breadth 177 

Harmony of Christ's resurrection 124 

Heads of the Captivity 195 

He and She Bible 186 

Hebrew Bible, first edition of. 36 

Bible, other editions 37 

Hebrew language 61 

Of Hebrews 194 

Hell, or Gehenna 130 

Herodians 196 

Herod the Great lo2 

High Priests 195 

Priests for the war 196 

Hill country of Judea 130 

Hin 178 



INDEX. 225 

PAGE. 

Historical books of the O. T 194 

Books of the N. T 194 

History, Jewish, between O. T. and N. T 94 

Holly 157 

Hollybush, Johaji, edition of N. T 44 

Holy Eucharist, symbols of. 156 

Holy Innocents' Day, symbol of 175 

Holy Thursday, symbol of 175 

Holy Week, events of 209 

Homer 176 

Home Bishop, commendation of the Bible 15 

Hours of the day I98 

Hyperbole 29 

Hyrcanus, John loi 

I. 

Iddo, missing book of 33 

Index, chronological, to the Bible 55 

Indian Bible, Elliott's 54 

Irish Bible 49 

Iron 183 

Irony 29 

Israelites 194 

Italian version 54 

Iturea 131 

Ivy 157 

J. 

Jacob's sons 66 

Well 131 

Jaddus 94 

James, the Greater, death of. 150 

Symbol of. 155 

James, the Less, biography of 148 

The Less, death of 150 

The Less, symbol of 155 



226 INDEX. 

PACK. 

Jared 201 

Jasher, missing book of. 33 

Jasper 180 

Jehu, missing book of 33 

Jericho 131 

Jerome, Saint, Latin version by 39 

Saint, punctuation by 30 

John, biography of. 147 

Death of 150 

Symbol of. 155 

Jones, Sir WiUiam, Eulogy on Bible 15 

Judas Maccabeus 99 

Jude, biography of 150 

Death of 150 

Symbol of. 156 

K. 

Kab 176 

Kidron 131 

Kings 194 

King James' version 46 

James' version, preface to 46 

L. 

Lamech 201 

Language, figurative, of the Bible 25 

Of the O. T 61 

Of the N. T 104 

Latin version 39 

Version by Erasmus 40 

Version by Beza 41 

Laurel IS7 

Lead 183 

Letter of Publius Lentulus 173 

Levi, or Matthew 145 



INDEX. 227 

PAGE. 

Levites 196 

Libertines 196 

Ligure 180 

Lily of the valley 156 

Line, first of each Psalm, table of. 81 

Lime 181 

Log 178 

Lord's Prayer, renderings of. 151 

Luke, biography of 146 

Death of 150 

Symbol of. 155 

Luther, Martin, translation by 36 

M. 

Maccabees 195 

Magdala 128 

Mahaleel 201 

Maimonides, Jewish faith, according to 203 

Manuscripts of sacred works 23 

Variation in 22 

Manx version 5° 

Marble 181 

Marchesvan, month 87 

Marigold 157 

Mark, biography of 146 

Death of 150 

Symbol of. 155 

Masorah 62 

Mattathias , 99 

Matthew, biography of 145 

Death of 150 

Symbol of, 155 

Thomas, English translation by 44 

Matthias, death of 150 

Symbol of. 156 



228 INDEX. 

PAGE. 

Measures, Bible 176 

Mesopotamia 63 

Metals of Scripture 182 

Metaphor 28 

Methuselah 201 

Metonymy 28 

Michaelmas Day, sjTiibol of 175 

Middle chapter, etc 208 

Mile 178 

Miracles, definition of 74 

In the O. T 74 

In the Acts of the Apostles 119 

Of Christ Ill 

Mineral substances of the Bible 184 

Missing books, alleged, of O. T 31 

Books, alleged, of N. T 35 

Misquotations from Scripture 192 

Months, Hebrew 199 

Hebrew names of 86 

Mount Acra 98 

Movabte feasts 175 

Murderer's Bible 187 

N. 

Nain 132 

Name of God in forty-eight languages 154 

Names and titles of Christ 1 14 

Naphtha 184 

Naphthali 132 

Nathan the Prophet, missing Book of 33 

Nazarenes 197 

Nazareth 132 

Nazarites 197 

Nephthalim 132 

Nethinims I96 



INDEX. 229 

PAGE. 

New Testament, alleged missing books of 35 

Authors of 109 

Biography of writers of. 145 

Chronology of 106 

Chronological order of books of 109 

Divisions of 13 

Doctrinal books of 194 

Geography of 125 

Historical books of 194 

Language of. 104 

Metaphorical style of 27 

Obsolete terms in 189 

Parables in I12 

Prayers, special, in 1 10 

Prophetic books of I94 

Title of 103 

Wickliffe's translation of 42 

Nicolaitans 197 

Night watches 198 

Nisan, month 86. 89, 200 

Noah 201 

O. 

Obsolete terms in the Bible 189 

Offices and conditions of men, table of 194 

Officers 194 

Under Gentile rulers 195 

Olives, mount of 133 

Onias 100 

Onyx 180 

Order of O. T. books, chronological 65 

Of N. T. books, chronological 109 

P. 

Palestine 63 

Palm, or hand-breadth 177 



230 INDEX. 

PAGE. 

Palm Sunday, flower of 175 

Pansy 157 

Parable, definition of. 28, 76 

Parables in O. T 77 

Of Christ 112 

Parabolic fables in O. T 77 

Paradise, or Eden 63 

Passion flower 156 

Patriarchs 194 

Paul, biography of. 147 

Death of 109, 150 

Principal events in the life of. 202 

Symbol of 155 

Pearl, symbolism of 1 74 

Pentateuch 194 

Canon of 68 

Peter, biography of 149 

Death of 109, 150 

Symbol of. 155 

Pharisees 197 

Philip, death of 150 

Symbol of 155 

Pilate, death sentence of Christ by 121 

Placemakers' Bible 186 

Poetical books of O. T 194 

Polish version 53 

Portrait of Christ, ancient 173 

Portuguese version 53 

Pot 178 

Prayers, special, in O. T , 77 

In N. T no 

Precepts of Jewish law 204 

Precious stones 1 79 

Symbolism of 174 

Preface to King James' version 46 



INDEX, 231 

PAGE. 

Preservation of sacred books 21, 71 

Presidents 195 

Priests 196 

Printers' Bible 187 

Prophecies relating to Christ 91 

Prophecy of Ahijah, missing book of 33 

Prophetical Book, chronology of 65 

Of O. T 194 

Of N. T 194 

Prophets 196 

Children of the 196 

Proselyte of the Covenant 195 

Of the Gate 195 

Prosopopoeia 28 

Proverb, definition of. 28 

Proverbs, missing book of 33 

Psalms, alphabetical index of 81 

Chronological arrangement of 79 

Saxon version by King Alfred 41 

Publicans 195 

Publius Lentulus, letter of 173 

Punctuation of the Bible 29 

Purification of Virgin Mary, symbol of 175 

Q. 

Questions and answers, curious Bible 158 

R. 

Rabbis 196 

Ramah 133 

Reed, measuring 178 

Resurrection of Christ 122 

Harmony of 1 24 

Rocks and stones of the Bible l8l 

Rose 157 

Rosemary 157 



232 INDEX. 

PAGB. 

Rosin Bible i86 

Ruby, symbolism of. 174 

Russian version 52 

S. 

Sabbath-day's journey 178 

Sadducees 197 

Sagan 195 

Salem or Salim 134 

Salt 185 

Covenant of 185 

Samaria 133 

Samaritans 197 

Sand 185 

Sanhedrim 194 

Sapphire 1 80 

Symbolism of 174 

Sardius 180 

Symbolism of 174 

Sarepta 134 

Saxon version 41 

Sayings of Seers, missing book of 33 

Scribes 196 

Scriptures, meaning of term 205 

Sea of Galilee 129 

Sebat, month 86, 90 

Second Priests 195 

Sects of men 195 

Seers, Sayings of, missing book of 33 

Sentence, death, of Christ by Pilate 121 

Septuagint 38 

Use of 96 

Seth 201 

Shebat, month 90 

Shennaiah the Prophet, missing book of. 33 



INDEX. 233 

PAGE. 

Sicarii 197 

Sidon 134 

Siloam, pool of. 135 

Silver 183 

Simon, symbol of 156 

Magus 196 

Singular names of Bibles 186 

Sivan, month 86, 9I 

Snowdrop 157 

Solomon, missing books of 33 

Sons of Jacob 66 

Span 179 

Spanish version 5^ 

Speech, figures of 28 

Star of Bethlehem 157 

Stoics 196 

Stones and rocks of the Bible 181 

Stones, precious 179 

Symbolism of 174 

Stranger 195 

Style, metaphorical, of N. T 27 

Sulphur 184 

Suppressed Bibles 153 

Sychar 134 

Symbolism of precious stones 174 

Of flowers 156 

Symbols of Evangelists and Apostles 155 

Of Feast Days 175 

Synecdoche 29 

Syria 63 

T. 

Table, analytical and historical, of our Lord's life and ministry 136 

Of Bible measures 176 

Offices and conditions of men 194 



234 INDEX. 

FAGB. 

Tammuz, month 86, 91 

Tarshish stone 179 

Tebeth, month 86, 90 

Tenth-deal, or tenth-part 179 

Tetrarchs 195 

Thammuz, month 91 

Thebet, month 90 

Thomas, death of 150 

Symbol of 155 

Thumb Bible 187 

Time, Hebrew modes of computing 197 

Tin 184 

Tirshata 195 

Title of the Bible Il 

Of the N. T 103 

Pages of an old Bible 187 

Titles and names of Christ 1 14 

Topaz i8i 

Symbolism of 174 

Trachonitis 135 

Translations of the Bible 38 

Number of 205 

Treacle Bible 186 

Trinity Sunday, symbol of 175 

Turkish version 53 

Tyndale, translation by 42 

Tyre 135 

V. 

Variation in manuscripts of the Bible 22 

Verses, division into 207 

Verse, middle , 208 

Versions of the Bible 36 

Vinegar Bible 187 

Violet 157 



INDEX. 235 

FAGB. 

Virgin Mary, symbols of. 156, 157 

Vulgate 40 

W. 

Wallachian version 53 

Well, Jacob's 131 

Welsh version 49 

Whitsunday, symbol of 175 

Wicked Bible 186 

Wickliffe, translation of N. T. by 42 

Wilderness of Judea 131 

Wisemen 196 

Z. 

Zebulon 135 

Zelots 197 

Zif, month 91 






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